flersfaktorautentisering

Flersfaktorautentisering, often abbreviated as MFA or sometimes referred to as two-factor authentication (2FA) when specifically involving two factors, is a security process that requires a user to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to a resource. This layered approach to authentication significantly enhances the security of user accounts and sensitive data compared to single-factor authentication, which typically relies solely on a password.

The core principle behind MFA is that even if one factor is compromised, the unauthorized party still cannot access the resource without the other factors. MFA systems commonly use three categories of verification factors: something the user knows (like a password or PIN), something the user has (like a smartphone, a hardware token, or a smart card), and something the user is (like a fingerprint, facial scan, or iris pattern).

A typical MFA implementation might involve a user entering their password (something they know) and then providing a one-time code sent to their registered mobile device (something they have) or presented by a hardware token. Biometric factors are increasingly being integrated into MFA solutions, offering a convenient and secure method of verification. MFA is widely adopted for securing online banking, email accounts, corporate networks, and other sensitive digital environments to protect against unauthorized access and identity theft.