Two-factor authentication adds what to the login process?

Two-factor authentication adds what to the login process?

• A. A password plus a second factor such as a code from an authenticator app
• B. Only a password
• C. A password and sharing a password
• D. Biometrics only, nothing else

Answer: (A)

Two-factor authentication adds a second way to prove who you are after you’ve entered your password. It combines something you know (the password) with something you have or are (a second factor). The example described—a code from an authenticator app—is the typical second factor, since it comes from a separate device and changes over time, making it much harder for someone to gain access even if they know your password. A password alone is only one factor, so it isn’t two-factor. Sharing a password doesn’t add a second verification method, it’s still just one factor. Biometrics by itself is also a single factor; many systems require a second factor alongside biometrics (such as a password or a one-time code) to achieve true two-factor authentication.

Two-factor authentication adds a second way to prove who you are after you’ve entered your password. It combines something you know (the password) with something you have or are (a second factor). The example described—a code from an authenticator app—is the typical second factor, since it comes from a separate device and changes over time, making it much harder for someone to gain access even if they know your password.

A password alone is only one factor, so it isn’t two-factor. Sharing a password doesn’t add a second verification method, it’s still just one factor. Biometrics by itself is also a single factor; many systems require a second factor alongside biometrics (such as a password or a one-time code) to achieve true two-factor authentication.