February 15, 2022 / Lily Collins

Add Extra Layer of Security with ProtonMail Two-Factor Authentication

You have to admit this – “If you aren’t using two-factor authentication, your accounts are vulnerable.”0

Call yourself lucky if you managed to change your password just before hackers tried to log in to your account. What if you had acted late? Online intruders would have well been into your account, stolen your data, and long gone. With ProtonMail two-factor authentication, you can have a peaceful night – rather than some fretful nightmares.

What Is ProtonMail Two-Factor Authentication?

Two-factor Authentication, widely known as 2FA, gives an extra layer of security to your ProtonMail email account. When you have enabled 2FA, you will instantly be notified when someone tries to sneak into your account. You can immediately deny their entry by pressing the “NO” button on your mobile screen. And when you try to log into your account, you have got to enter a unique 6-digit code, which will be generated by the app during the installation of it on your mobile phone.

When ProtonMail two-factor authentication is enabled, your account will ward off online attackers. Even if you lose your ProtonMail password, hackers wouldn’t be able to get into your account. Hence, experts recommend enabling ProtonMail two-step verification.

How to Set up ProtonMail Two-Factor Authentication?

Check the steps below to complete setting up two-step verification in ProtonMail.

• After you have logged into your ProtonMail account, look for the “SETTINGS” option. (It should be located on the top bar.)
• Within Settings, look for the “Security” tab.
• Click on it and then click on “ENABLE TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION”.
• Next, on your mobile phone, tap on the authenticator app, and select the option to scan a QR code. You may want to enter the authentication key manually. (If you know how to scan the QR code, accomplish the task. If you don’t know how to do that, simply point your phone’s camera at the code in the setting of your account.)
• On the next “Password required” screen, you must ‘Enter your password’ (login password), followed by the two-factor passcode (this should be found in the authenticator application that you are using).
• “Enter two-factor passcode” and click on the “Submit” button.

You will see a “Two-factor authentication enabled” message on the screen. Along with it, you will get several ‘one-time-use recovery codes’. “Keep these recovery codes in a safe place. If you lose your two-factor enabled device, these one-time use codes can be used in the listed order to log in to your account.”

Note: If you have to reset your ProtonMail password, it will disable 2FA automatically. So, you have to manually enable 2FA in your ProtonMail account – Settings > Security > Two-Factor Authentication.

Before you carry out the above steps, complete installing an authenticator app on your smartphone device. It is mandatory. Make sure you always have access to your smartphone the next time you try to log into your account.

How Does ProtonMail 2FA Work?

Equipping additional identity verification augments or enhances the safety and security of your ProtonMail account. So, how does the process work? Is there more to just providing your username and password? Read on to know –

Instead of simply requiring your login credentials, 2FA would need another type of credential. Some of the most common types of 2-step verification are –

• A one-time password generated by an authenticator app like Duo Mobile or Authy
• A one-time verification code sent to your email address or phone number
• Biometric information (fingerprint)
• A security question answer (for instance, the place you were born)

When you use two-factor authentication, you ultimately rely on verifying your identity through the device you have selected before. Make sure you are always in possession of the device while trying to log into your ProtonMail account.

Certainly, 2FA or two-factor authentication has become the standard norm for online organizations. More and more businesses are gearing up to set up 2FA, thus thwarting hackers and imposters from sneaking into your online account.