Two-Factor Authentication

What is Two-Factor Authentication?

The first factor is something you know, a password. The second is something you have, such as a phone that receives a code or an app that makes one, or something you are, such as a fingerprint. The FTC's phishing page lists multi-factor authentication among the ways to protect yourself.

App codes are safer than text codes, and a hardware key is stronger still.

Why does it matter on a fixed wireless connection?

Many accounts that matter to a rural household are online: email, bank, the Google account that holds photos, an online payment account and, if you have one, the account for a domain or hosting. A thief who gets one password can reset others. Turning on a second step on the email account protects most others, since resets go to email.

The company's pay link and webmail are reached from this site. For webmail, a strong, unique password is the first line, as described in change your webmail password. High Desert has not published two-step sign-in for webmail.

What should I do about it?

Start with email, then banking, then anything with saved cards. Choose an authenticator app if offered, save backup codes in a safe place, and keep a second way in. Our guide two-step verification walks through the steps, and passwords and password managers covers the first factor.

Never read a code aloud to a caller. Real companies do not ask for one.

Tell family members who share accounts what the new sign-in will ask for, so no one is locked out when a code arrives on a phone that is in another room.