Remember the time when you paid at the grocery store with a signed check and were asked to provide a license or photo identification. Or when you paid with your debit card and the system asked you to enter a pin. In both cases, you had a second step, namely providing an ID or entering a safe pin. By using the second step, the banks and financial institutions try to reduce fraudulent practices and increase security.

With hackers becoming more active, most reputed companies are moving towards the 2 step authentication.  Two-factor authentication (2FA) — also known as two-step verification or multifactor authentication — is widely used to add a layer of security to your online accounts. The most commonly used 2 step authentication requires the user to enter their cell phone number during registration. When they try to log into their account with a password, they are also sent a code on their cell phone. This code is needed to log into the account, providing another layer of security. If a hacker gets a hold of your password still cannot hack into your account as he does not have your phone.

Many sites and companies give you the option of using 2 step authentication including Amazon, Dropbox, Google and Microsoft. With security becoming a big issue on the internet, this option may soon  be seen on many websites.