Is Phone Verification Fool Proof?
Ping! The sound of a new message that fills the inbox of your email account is not something new. Yet another offer to update your business information, sign up to purchase the latest product or join a new social networking site. However, while filling out details of your business and typing in sensitive information, the thought of misuse of data may be the last one on your mind. However, a spurt in cyber crime over the last few years means that your data may not always be safe. It also means that the transmitted information may not always reach the intended destination.
However, even beyond two factors authentication lays the fact that businesses should be aware of malicious emails and content on the web. It may start with one, simple click on an unsolicited email but can end with losses running into billions of dollars for a business. The much needed solutions of the hour: The ability to have a strong perception of the damage that can be caused by cyber crooks lurking on the web, maintaining unique passwords and keeping track of innovations in the two-step verification procedure so that it continues to be effective over time. Check these boxes and you can be sure to leave cyber criminals far behind for a long time to come!
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Information being intercepted in the middle is not entirely new, but how this is done has changed over the years. With phishers and hackers occupying cyberspace with more gusto than we can imagine, no one is exempt from the attackers’ net and therefore, using a mobile phone as an additional tool to verify information has become even more important.
To counter illegal interception, technology has introduced new mechanisms when it comes to people identification and to verify phone numbers. While doing away with simple passwords, a more robust approach of phone verification has been put in place.
A strong phone verification system keeps a watchful eye out for hackers and fraudsters to prevent attacks as well as ensures that all account details of a customer are delivered to them via SMS. A tighter control over user accounts can be established and account hijacks can be reduced, thus avoiding falling prey to phishers.
But, how well do these phone verification tools actually work? An in-depth look at the system brings out some loopholes through which phishers find an easy getaway. A shaky verification structure of quick resetting of passwords without proper certification and a faulty authentication process can often prove to be the final nail in the coffin.
While most systems carefully check the functioning of the phone verification tools at regular periods, MITM attacks often strike at the heart of the most unsuspecting of users. Therefore, a hack proof two step verification process also known as “two factor authentication” or 2FA helps minimize and even completely remove the risk of attacks.
This system combines a unique password with an access code relayed directly to a user’s phone. Without the access code, a hacker cannot intercept an account even though he may know the password for it. It is a double sheath of sorts that makes online transactions more secure, reliable and competent, thus, saving one from legal hassles and unnecessary costs related to fraudulent deals.
While internet giants like Google and Facebook have made phone verification of user accounts mandatory on many levels, Smartphone apps such as Whatsapp and Viber use it too. Once a new user signs up, an access code is required to complete the installation of the app. This access code is delivered via SMS or an automated phone call to the phone number of that user, which is then entered in to complete installation of the app.
However, even beyond two factors authentication lays the fact that businesses should be aware of malicious emails and content on the web. It may start with one, simple click on an unsolicited email but can end with losses running into billions of dollars for a business. The much needed solutions of the hour: The ability to have a strong perception of the damage that can be caused by cyber crooks lurking on the web, maintaining unique passwords and keeping track of innovations in the two-step verification procedure so that it continues to be effective over time. Check these boxes and you can be sure to leave cyber criminals far behind for a long time to come!
Author’s Bio:
James Brown is a business and technology blogger living in Los Angeles, CA. He likes to share his knowledge in the field of Internet security and out-of-band authentication by writing articles for high-quality blogs/websites. And he is crazy about baseball.
Note: If you want to learn more about Linux and Windows based Penetration testing, you might want to subscribe our RSS feed and Email Subscription or become our Facebook fan! You will get all the latest updates at both the places.