What is two-factor authentication (2FA)?

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security process designed to enhance the security of user accounts and sensitive information by requiring two separate forms of identification before access is granted. This typically involves something the user knows, like a password or PIN, and something the user has, such as a smartphone app that generates a time-sensitive code or a hardware token.

By implementing this dual layer of security, 2FA significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, as a potential intruder would need both forms of identification to compromise the account. This makes it much more challenging for cybercriminals to gain access based solely on stolen passwords, as the second factor acts as a vital safeguard.

In contrast, the other choices describe different security measures or concepts. One form of identification does not provide the necessary depth of security that 2FA delivers, while encryption focuses on securing data itself. Changing passwords regularly is a routine security practice but does not constitute two-factor authentication.