When people talk about keeping their personal information safe like there “Banking”, they need to understand just keeping your “Banking Information” safe is not enough.  You e-mail is where all your banking information gets sent, so you need to keep that secure first.

The most secure e-mail is one that uses Two-factor authentication I recommend is Google Gmail because it does what we want to do unlike Yahoo, AOL, exc.  Even if you just setup Gmail for your banking you will be better off.  So what is Two-factor authentication lets explain?

Two-factor authentication is an approach to authentication which requires the presentation of two or more of the three authentication factors

  • a knowledge factor “something the user knows”
  • a possession factor “something the user has”
  • a inherence factor “something the user is”

Two-factor authentication is often confused with other forms of authentication. Two-factor authentication requires the use of two of the three authentication factors. The factors are identified in the standards and regulations for access to U.S. Federal Government systems.

Two-factor authentication is commonly found in where evidence of identity is needed and a second form confirms the identity. Two-factor authentication seeks to decrease the probability that the requestor is presenting false evidence of its identity. The number of factors is important, as it implies a higher probability that the bearer of the identity evidence indeed holds that identity in another realm computer system vs real life. In reality, there are more variables to consider when establishing the relative assurance of truthfulness in an identity assertion than simply how many “factors” are used.

One of the things I like about Gmail’s Two-factor authentication is the app that works on Android, iPhone and Blackberry.  Google Authenticator generates 2-step verification codes on your phone.  Enable 2-step verification to protect your account from hijacking by adding another layer of security. With 2-step verification signing in will require a code generated by the Google Authenticator app in addition to your account password.

I have included the full video below of the setup process for Gmail Two-factor authentication.