As its name suggests, two-factor authentication (2FA) is an additional layer of security that requires a second “factor” in addition to your password in order to log into your account. The most common second factor is a time-based one-time password (TOTP), which is generated by an app on your smartphone.
While 2FA adds an extra step to the login process, it significantly increases the security of your account by protecting it against password theft and other attacks. In this article, we’ll show you how to enable and disable 2FA for your WordPress account.
Enabling Two-factor Authentication
To enable two-factor authentication, you’ll need to install and activate the Two Factor Authentication plugin. Once activated, you’ll need to visit the Users » Your Profile page and scroll down to the “Two-Factor Authentication” section.
Here, you’ll need to select the type of second factor you want to use. The most common and recommended option is “Time-based One-time Password (Google Authenticator)”. If you select this option, you’ll be given a QR code and a secret key. You’ll need to use these to set up two-factor authentication on your smartphone.
There are many smartphone apps that can generate TOTP codes, but we recommend using the Google Authenticator app. Once you have installed the app, open it and tap on the “+” sign to set up a new account. On the next screen, select “Scan a barcode” and scan the QR code from your WordPress profile page.
Once the code has been scanned, you should see a six-digit code appear in the app. This code will change every 30 seconds, and this is what you’ll use to log into your WordPress account.
What is two-factor authentication?
Two-factor authentication, also known as 2FA, is a security measure that requires users to provide an additional piece of information beyond their username and password when logging in. This second factor can be something that the user knows, like a PIN or a passcode, or something that the user has, like their phone or a security token.
Why use two-factor authentication?
Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring a second piece of information that only you should know or have access to. This makes it much harder for someone to gain access to your account, even if they know your password.
How to enable two-factor authentication
Most online services that offer two-factor authentication will require you to set it up when you first create your account. Once you have set it up, you will usually be able to enable or disable it from your account settings.
To enable two-factor authentication:
1. Log into your account and go to your account settings.
2. Look for the security settings or two-factor authentication options.
3. Follow the instructions to set up two-factor authentication. This will usually involve entering your phone number and choosing whether you want to receive a text message or an app notification for your second factor.
4. Once you have set up two-factor authentication, you will usually be given the option to add a backup phone number or email address. This is in case you lose your phone or can’t receive text messages for some reason.
How to disable two-factor authentication
If you decide that you no longer want to use two-factor authentication, you can usually disable it from your account settings.
To disable two-factor authentication:
1. Log into your account and go to your account settings.
2. Look for the security settings or two-factor authentication options.
3. Follow the instructions to disable two-factor authentication. This will usually involve entering your phone number and choosing whether you want to receive a text message or an app notification for your second factor.
4. Once you have disabled two-factor authentication, you will usually be given the option to add a backup phone number or email address. This is in case you lose your phone or can’t receive text messages for some reason.
Two-factor authentication is a great way to add an extra layer of security to your online accounts. It’s important to choose a method that works for you and to set up a backup in case you lose your phone or can’t receive text messages.