2FA or not 2FA

What is Two-Factor Authentication and How to Set it up on Terminals.io

2FA or not 2FA: What is Two-Factor Authentication and How to Set it up on Terminals.io

What is 2FA and Why Should You Care?

Two Factor Authentication — also known as 2FA— is a way to add an extra layer of security to an online account by requiring approval from an outside source every time you log-in. This often takes the form of unique time-limited codes that are auto generated every few minutes by a program or app that has been keyed to the account you’re trying to protect.

By having this extra layer of protection, it means that even if there's been a leak out there in the void of the internet, and some ne’er-do-well gets their hands on your log-in details, any accounts you have protected by 2FA will remain safe. It isn’t completely ironclad, of course, as phones can be stolen, so it’s still best to use a password manager, and to ensure that all of your online accounts have unique and secure passwords. That said, 2FA is still an incredibly strong first line of defense against most malefactors out there looking to hijack your personal accounts

How to Enable 2FA on your Terminals.io Account

Enabling 2FA on your Terminals.io account is thankfully very simple & easy to do. Just follow these steps:

Head to the Terminals.io Settings menu by clicking your profile icon in the top right corner, and then head to the “Security” section.

2. Click the “Enable two-factor authentication” button which will take you to a page with iOS & Android download links for the Google Authenticator app, as well as a QR code you’ll use to establish the link between your Terminals.io account and that app. [These instructions will use the steps for setting things up with Google Authenticator, but they should be relatively the same for other authentication apps you might use.]

3. Install the Google Authenticator app on your phone or tablet and open it up, you’ll then be prompted to set-up your first account on it, which you can do by scanning the QR code or entering the text code on the “Secure your account with 2FA” page. If you’ve already got Google Authenticator installed on your device, then press the “+” button at the bottom of the screen when in the app to add a new account.

4. Once you’ve scanned or entered your QR code, you’ll get a confirmation showing you the access codes that Google Authenticator is now generating for your Terminals.io account. Press the “Add Account” button to confirm the connection between the app and your account. Back on Terminals.io, you can now click the “Complete 2FA” button on the page above to complete the process.

5. From this point forward whenever you log-in to Terminals.io, or try to log-in to Terminals.io from another device, you’ll be asked for an access code which you’ll find in the Google Authenticator app.

After completing these steps, you’ll be set up and secured with 2FA enabled on your account, keeping all your info, requests, and keys safely out of the wrong hands.

Removing or Resetting 2FA on Your Account

But let’s say you want to remove 2FA from your account for whatever reason, perhaps you’ve bought a new phone and need to transfer your information, or just don’t have access to your device anymore for… y’know…. reasons. It’s okay, it happens to the best of us.

If you still have access to your phone or are still logged in to your Terminals.io account, you can remove 2FA by clicking the “Remove Two-Factor Authentication” button on the same “Security” page you set it up on.