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Multi-factor Authentication.md

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Requiring multiple types of authentication greatly increases security over traditional username-password paradigm.

Types of multi-factor authentication

  1. Knowledge - Something you know
  2. Possession - Something you have
  3. Identity - Something you are
  4. Action - Something you can do
  5. Location - Somewhere you are

Multi-factor methods

Knowledge-based

"Something you know"

  • password
  • PIN number
  • username
  • personal information (eg: "Where were you born? Mother's maiden name? Favorite high school teacher?")

Biometric

"something you are"

  • iris scan - infrared, surface level. quicker than retinal scan & less prone to inaccuracy due to disease
  • fingerprints
  • voice scan
  • vein scan
  • retina scan
  • gait analysis

Location

  • User location, provided by GPS or device sensors

Push notifications

"something you have"

  • enter a code given to the user by a push notification
  • implies the user has possession the mobile device, and ability to open it

Token / Keyfob

  • "something you have" factor
  • physical device providing a time-based numeric code
  • this is a type of TOTP

SMS code

  • "something you have factor"
  • technically classified as "Out-of-band authentication"
  • receive a one-time code by SMS

HMAC

  • Hash-based message authentication code
  • one-time password generator
  • increments by counter
  • used in authenticator apps or keyfob devices

TOTP

  • Time-based one-time password
  • one-time password generator
  • based on timestamp, expires after set period
  • used in authenticator apps or keyfob devices

Authenticator app

"something you have"

  • software application
  • generates a rotating time-based or HMAC numeric code
  • examples: Authy, Google Authenticator

Actions

"something you can do"

  • perform a puzzle or challenge (like CAPTCHA)
  • match a signature