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Microsoft Hops On Two-Factor Authentication Bandwagon

Posted by Soulskill on from the not-last-and-not-least dept.

itwbennett writes "Following similar initiatives by Apple, Google and Facebook, Microsoft is enabling two-factor authentication for its Microsoft Account service, the log-on service for many of its online and desktop products. Users will find instructions on how to add a second form of authentication on the Microsoft Account settings page. The chief form of secondary authentication will be a short code sent to the user's mobile phone, the number of which Microsoft will keep on file, each time the user logs on."

2 of 132 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Does MS even understand Two Factor by BradleyUffner · · Score: 5, Informative

    It is 2 factor authentication.

    The 3 authentication factors are:
    Something you Know.
    Something you Have.
    Something you Are.

    This meets 2 of those factors, a password (know), and your phone (have).

  2. Re:Microsoft has accounts? by tgd · · Score: 4, Informative

    Unless you're a Microsoft developer, what would anyone want a "Microsoft account" for? Hotmail?

    Skype, Hotmail, Live properties, Xbox Live, Messenger, Windows 8 users with linked accounts, Skydrive ...

    Microsoft has more individuals with accounts than anyone else, by far.

    You may not have one (although, even if you were 100% Linux, unless you've never used Skype, you do have one), but virtually every other person with a computer does.