Multi-factor authentication is crucial in keeping anyone but yourself from accessing your accounts. Brennan Lowes, CMRU.ca
In a world of data leaks and reused passwords, protecting your online accounts is more important than ever. That is where multi-factor authentication (MFA) comes in.
What is multi-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an extra layer of security protecting your private information. When turned on, instead of only needing a password there will also be an extra step before accessing your account. Having this additional step protects your account even if your password has been leaked and someone tries to gain entry into your account.
Is it mandatory for MRU accounts
In short, yes. According to Mount Royal’s Cybersecurity Hub, data breaches and credential theft have become more common in recent years, so, having MFA enabled on all MRU accounts is crucial in protecting the institutions’ and students’ information. So, even though picking up your phone and confirming you are the one accessing your account is annoying, it’ll be important for the time it’s not. At Mount Royal, you can enable MFA for your MRU email, VPN, and Office 365 accounts.
How do personal information and passwords leak
You may think that it is obvious when receiving malicious emails, texts, and phone calls. However, cybercriminals are creating more convincing scams every day. The main method for personal information and passwords is phishing scams. Microsoft shares that phishing is a method to steal your identity by trying to get you to reveal your personal information such as passwords and credit card numbers. With MFA enabled, even if these criminals acquire your password, there is an extra barrier preventing them from stealing your information and data.
Comments