Yksitekijävarmistus

Yksitekijävarmistus, meaning "single-factor authentication" in English, is a security process where only one method of verification is required to grant a user access to a system or account. This contrasts with multi-factor authentication, which requires two or more distinct forms of identification. The most common example of yksitekijävarmistus is a password. When a user enters their username and password, they are relying on a single piece of information, typically something they know, to prove their identity.

Other examples of single-factor authentication include security questions (something you know) or a unique code sent to a registered device via SMS (something you have). While simple and convenient, yksitekijävarmistus is considered less secure than multi-factor authentication because if that single factor is compromised, an attacker can gain unauthorized access. For instance, if a password is stolen or guessed, the account is immediately vulnerable. Therefore, many systems are moving towards stronger authentication methods to better protect user data and privacy. The prevalence of password-based authentication makes it a critical point of failure in many cybersecurity strategies.