#1077 – Two-Factor Authentication: It’s Not as Complicated as You Think

SUNSHINE

That's this months subscriber-only coupon code for 20% off anything in the Ask Leo! store.

Thanks for subscribing!

The single most important way to secure your online accounts

Two-factor authentication, when available, is one of the most powerful ways to secure your online accounts from being hacked. Even if a hacker somehow gets your password, 2FA stills stands in their way.

There's a lot of misunderstanding about two-factor that prevents some people from choosing to use it. This week I cover some of the misconceptions, and why it's not nearly as scary as you think.

Two-Factor Authentication: It's Not as Complicated as You Think

Also this week

• Recovering data from a dead computer.
• Bounces to email you didn't send.
• The https padlock means less than you think.
• How to run a full security scan.

As always, links below.

TEH Podcast

Connectivity, or lack there of, while I was camping lead to my new Starlink. How we all store photos. AI dating (no, seriously, dating an AI?). And of course the usual cool stuff, and recommended reading.

TEH 251: Camping connectivity. Fiber isn't Fiber. Griping about Negativity. AI dating.

•

Take care,

Featured Article

Two-Factor Authentication: It's Not as Complicated as You Think
Clearing up some 2FA myths.

There are some persistent myths about two-factor authentication that stop people from adopting it. I'll clear them up so you can use this simple yet powerful security feature with confidence.

Read: Two-Factor Authentication: It's Not as Complicated as You Think

Also This Week on Ask Leo!

How to Get Data Off a Hard Drive in a Dead Computer There are several techniques.
Extracting data from a hard drive in a dead computer shouldn't be too difficult (unless it's the drive itself that caused the problem). I'll walk you through some of the options and steps you can take. Read: How to Get Data Off a Hard Drive in a Dead Computer

Does Getting Bounces to Email I Didn't Send Mean I've Been Hacked? Probably not, but...
Email bounces from messages you didn't send can be disconcerting. I'll explain what's happening, why you probably don't need to worry, and what steps you might take anyway. Read: Does Getting Bounces to Email I Didn't Send Mean I've Been Hacked?

Don't Rely on the Padlock: What the Lock Icon in Your Browser Really Means Not much.
Https is important, but now that it's ubiquitous it's not really protecting you as much as you might think. I'll explain what I mean and why that is. Read: Don't Rely on the Padlock: What the Lock Icon in Your Browser Really Means

How to Run a Full Scan Using Windows Security Sometimes, you need to scan everything.
Here's my step-by-step guide on how to run a complete malware scan using Windows 10 and 11's built-in Windows Security. Read: How to Run a Full Scan Using Windows Security

Ask Leo! on YouTube

Subscribe to Ask Leo! on YouTube to get the latest on YouTube.com. Your subscription (and "Likes") help others find Ask Leo!, and the answers they're looking for.

How to Run a Full Scan Using Windows Security Here's my step-by-step guide on how to run a complete malware scan using Windows 10 and 11's built-in Windows Security. Watch: How to Run a Full Scan Using Windows Security

Don't Rely on the Padlock: What the Lock Icon in Your Browser Really Means Https is important, but now that it's ubiquitous it's not really protecting you as much as you might think. I'll explain what I mean and why that is. Watch: Don't Rely on the Padlock: What the Lock Icon in Your Browser Really Means

Does Getting Bounces to Email I Didn't Send Mean I've Been Hacked? Email bounces from messages you didn't send can be disconcerting. I'll explain what's happening, why you probably don't need to worry, and what steps you might take anyway. Watch: Does Getting Bounces to Email I Didn't Send Mean I've Been Hacked?

Two-Factor Authentication: It's Not as Complicated as You Think There are some persistent myths about two-factor authentication that stop people from adopting it. I'll clear them up so you can use this simple yet powerful security feature with confidence. Watch: Two-Factor Authentication: It's Not as Complicated as You Think

How to Get Data Off a Hard Drive in a Dead Computer Extracting data from a hard drive in a dead computer shouldn't be too difficult (unless it's the drive itself that caused the problem). I'll walk you through some of the options and steps you can take. Watch: How to Get Data Off a Hard Drive in a Dead Computer

Support Ask Leo!

Ask Leo! is supported in part by people just like you! For as little as $2/month you can help, and view askleo.com without ads. For $5/month you'll also get the The Ask Leo! Tip of the Day

Here are examples of tips published this week:

• Tip of the Day: MSINFO32 Built-in System Information
• Tip of the Day: Install the Manufacturer's Software
• Tip of the Day: To Sleep or Not to Sleep
• Tip of the Day: Recent Files
• Tip of the Day: Emergency Restart
• Tip of the Day: Know Where Your Files Are

Support Ask Leo! and become a patron for these and other exclusive benefits and discounts!

Other ways to support Ask Leo!.

Share Confident Computing!

Share the confidence: forward this (without your unsubscribe link at the bottom) to your friends! They'll thank you! (And so will I!)

Did someone forward this to you?

to get your own copy each week. It's FREE!

Become a Patron
Ask Leo! Books & Courses
"Link in bio" (links to all my socials).

Other Projects....

Not All News Is Bad - Each day I look for one story in the current news of the day with a positive bent. Just one. And I share it.

HeroicStories Since 1999, HeroicStories brings diverse, international voices to the world ' reminding us that people are good, that individuals and individual action matter. Stories - new and old - are published twice a week.

7 Takeaways - I've resolved to read something of substance each day and identify one idea to "take away". Once a week I post the takeaways I've collected for the week.

leo.notenboom.org - My personal blog. Part writing exercise, part ranting platform, it's where I write about anything and everything and nothing at all.