Which of the following is an example of two-factor authentication?
Case – I (Options)
A) Your answer to a general knowledge question and your password
B) Your password and your username
C) Your fingerprint and your password
D) Your account number and your name
The Correct Answer Is:
C) Your fingerprint and your password
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security mechanism that requires users to provide two different types of authentication factors to gain access to an account or system. The purpose of 2FA is to enhance security by adding an extra layer of protection beyond just a password.
Among the options provided, option C) “Your fingerprint and your password” is the correct example of two-factor authentication. Here’s a detailed explanation of why this answer is correct and why the other options are not:
Correct Answer – Option C) Your fingerprint and your password:
Two-factor authentication combines two distinct authentication factors:
- Something you know: This is typically a password or a PIN that only the user should know.
- Something you are: This refers to a biometric factor, such as a fingerprint or retina scan, which is unique to each individual.
In option C, the use of a fingerprint represents the biometric factor, and the password represents something the user knows. To access the account or system, the user must provide both their fingerprint (a physical characteristic unique to them) and their password (something only they should know).
This combination significantly enhances security because it’s unlikely that an unauthorized person can provide both factors unless they have stolen both the fingerprint and password, which is much more challenging than stealing just one of these elements.
Now, let’s explain why the other options are not correct:
Option A) Your answer to a general knowledge question and your password:
This option suggests using a general knowledge question as one of the factors. While it’s possible to use security questions as a second factor, it’s generally considered less secure because the answers to such questions might be guessable or obtainable through social engineering or online research.
Moreover, the user’s knowledge is not a reliable second factor because it’s not as unique or secure as biometric data.
Option B) Your password and your username:
This option combines something the user knows (password) with something the user is (username). However, using the username as a second factor is not a strong form of authentication since usernames are usually publicly known or easily guessed.
A stronger second factor would be something like a fingerprint or a security token, which is not publicly accessible.
Option D) Your account number and your name:
This option combines two pieces of information that are often publicly available or easily obtainable. Account numbers can be found on documents or statements, and names are typically public information.
Using these as authentication factors would not provide a high level of security because they can be easily acquired by an attacker who has some basic information about the user.
In summary, the correct example of two-factor authentication (2FA) is option C, where a unique biometric factor (fingerprint) is combined with something only the user should know (password). This combination offers a strong level of security because it requires both physical authentication and knowledge-based authentication, making it difficult for unauthorized individuals to access the account or system.
The other options either rely on easily obtainable information or weaker forms of authentication, making them less secure choices for 2FA.
Which of the following is an example of two-factor authentication?
Case – II(Options)
A) Smart card and personal identification number (PIN)
B) Personal identification number (PIN) and password
C) Password and security questions
D) Token and smart card
The Correct Answer Is:
A) Smart card and personal identification number (PIN)
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security mechanism used to enhance the protection of digital accounts and systems by requiring users to provide two distinct forms of verification before granting access. Among the options provided, the correct example of two-factor authentication is A) Smart card and personal identification number (PIN).
A) Smart card and personal identification number (PIN):
This option represents a classic and robust example of two-factor authentication. In this scenario, a user must possess two distinct elements to gain access. First, they need to have a physical smart card, which is a physical token or card containing encrypted information unique to the user.
Second, they must know a personal identification number (PIN) associated with the smart card. The smart card is something the user possesses, while the PIN is something the user knows. Combining these two factors significantly enhances security. Even if someone steals the smart card, they would still need to know the PIN to gain access.
Conversely, if someone learns the PIN, they would still require physical possession of the smart card. This approach mitigates the risks associated with single-factor authentication methods and is widely employed in scenarios requiring a high level of security, such as government facilities and financial institutions.
Now, let’s examine why the other options are not correct examples of two-factor authentication:
B) Personal identification number (PIN) and password:
While this option involves two factors – something the user knows (PIN) and something the user knows (password) – it is technically still a single-factor authentication system. Both the PIN and password are knowledge-based factors, meaning they rely solely on information stored in the user’s memory.
In a true two-factor authentication system, you would combine elements from different authentication categories, such as something you know (PIN) and something you possess (a physical token like a smart card or a mobile device).
C) Password and security questions:
Similar to option B, this combination involves two knowledge-based factors. The password is something the user knows, and the security questions are also knowledge-based, as they rely on information that the user knows or has provided during the registration process.
While security questions can add an extra layer of security compared to a single password, it still falls short of being a true two-factor authentication system since both factors belong to the same category of knowledge-based authentication.
D) Token and smart card:
This option appears to involve two factors – something the user possesses (smart card) and something the user possesses (token). However, it’s important to clarify the terminology. In the context of authentication, a token typically refers to a time-based or one-time password generated by a separate device (e.g., a mobile app or hardware token generator).
Combining a smart card with a token would indeed constitute two-factor authentication because it involves something the user possesses (smart card) and something the user has (the token generator). However, the wording of option D is somewhat confusing because it suggests that both the smart card and token are possession-based factors.
To make it a more accurate example, it should specify that the token is generated by a separate device or application, different from the smart card, to clearly represent two-factor authentication.
In summary, two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security measure that combines elements from different categories of authentication, such as something you know, something you possess, or something you are.
The correct example from the provided options is A) Smart card and personal identification number (PIN), as it combines something the user possesses (the smart card) with something the user knows (the PIN) to enhance security.
The other options, while involving multiple factors, do not meet the criteria of true two-factor authentication due to their reliance on factors from the same category (knowledge-based) or issues with terminology (option D).
MBA,BBA.
I am Smirti Bam, an enthusiastic edu blogger with a passion for sharing insights into the dynamic world of business and management through this website.
I hold a MBA degree from Presidential Business School, Kathmandu, and a BBA degree with a specialization in Finance from Apex College,