By far, you should have two-factor authentication, also known as 2FA, for all of your most precious accounts. A long and complex password is a good start, but the only way to protect yourself from hackers is to use 2FA, which requires you to verify your Accounts add another layer of security.
While text messaging is by far the most popular method of verifying your identity via 2FA, authentication apps like Google Authenticator are preferred as they are more secure.
However, if you’re an iPhone user, you don’t need to download any third-party apps for better two-factor authentication protection. Apple has a built-in authenticator to help secure any websites and apps that support the feature. Here’s how to set it up.
How to Set Up iOS’s Built-in Two-Factor Authentication
First, launch the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Passwords. Use Face ID or Touch ID to access your passcode and tap on whichever account you want to set up 2FA for.
(Note: This two-factor authentication method does not work with every website or app.)
Next, click Set Captcha and a menu with two options will appear:
Enter setup key
Scan QR code
These are your two options for setting up 2FA, and you can find them on the website of any account you’re trying to secure. To continue, visit the website, log in with your credentials, and go to the website’s account settings. There isn’t a single place to find setup keys or QR codes for 2FA, but generally you should find them in “Password” or “Two-Factor Authentication.”
In this example, we will use the setup key found in the account settings on the Mega website. If you see a setup key, just copy it to your clipboard, then go back to the Settings app on your iPhone and select the “Enter setup key” option. Next, paste the settings key, then click OK. Once done, a verification code will appear.
Go back to the website where you got your setup key and enter the verification code to enable 2FA. You don’t have to enter the settings key manually, as it should appear at the top of the keyboard, so you can just tap there and enter. However, you have to enter the settings key quickly because it changes every 30 seconds.
If you use the “Scan QR Code” option, the process is almost the same, but instead of manually entering the setup key, you can simply scan the QR code with your smartphone’s camera. However, this option might not be ideal if you do everything on your smartphone, so only use this option if you’re visiting a website on another device.
Once done, two-factor authentication should be enabled for the website. Every time you log into the site in the future, you will be asked to enter a verification code, which will be generated by a built-in function.