Josh Hendrickson
A few weeks ago, Samsung mysteriously sent out a global notification to users. Not long after, it suffered a data breach, and the timing of the two events led to the assumption they were related. That turned out not to be the case, but it left users on edge. So in the name of security, Samsung accounts will now require two-factor authentication for all new login attempts.
If you have a Samsung phone or tablet, chances are you have a Samsung account. Galaxy devices can be pretty persistent about creating one. But every account is another vector attack for bad actors, and too many people still use one password everywhere.
Two-factor authentication helps protect users by requiring one a rotating PIN to complete a login. That should keep out anyone will stolen credentials, and given that company breaches are a daily thing at this point, everyone should be using the extra security.
Based on some recent updates to the Samsung Account app in the Galaxy store, it seems that the company is rolling out mandatory two-factor authentication. The messaging appears to suggest it will only be necessary for logins, if you’ve already logged in you’ll be fine. But buy a new Samsung phone, and you’ll hit the barrier.
It’s a good move, and one more and more companies are making, including Ring and Google. The good news here is, unlike Ring, you won’t have to rely on an SMS system for your PIN. While SMS based two-factor authentication is better than nothing, other methods (which Samsung supports) are more secure.
via Android Police
