In an effort to persuade more people to start using 2FA, Facebook is making it easier than ever to set up. What’s more, Facebook no longer requires you to provide your phone number, and is, instead, letting you use third-party apps for two-factor authentication.

For the uninitiated, two-factor authentication (2FA) offers an extra layer of security for your online accounts. As well as typing in a password, you need to provide a secondary code to access your account. And this is sent via SMS or through an authentication app.

Secure Your Facebook Without a Phone Number

Facebook has offered 2FA for some time now. However, previously, the social network required you to provide your phone number during the set up process. This was necessary for Facebook to send authentication codes via SMS text messages.

However, the need to provide a phone number has clearly put some people off setting up 2FA. And those who did give Facebook their phone number were annoyed when a bug in Facebook’s 2FA system meant Facebook started sending other notifications via SMS.

Now, as detailed in a Facebook Security note, Facebook has simplified the two-factor authentication set-up procedure. And the social network has also added support for third-party authentication apps such as Google Authenticator and Duo Security.

How to Set Up 2FA on Facebook

Now. all that’s left to do is set up 2FA on Facebook, and here’s how:

  1. Go to Facebook.com/settings or click “Settings” on the app
  2. Click “Account Settings”
  3. Click “Security and Login”
  4. Scroll down until you find “Use two-factor authentication”
  5. Follow the prompts to set up 2FA

Two-Factor Authentication Is a Necessary Evil

We get it, and Facebook obviously gets it… two-factor authentication is a bit of a chore. However, once you have set it up, it’s a pretty painless endeavor, and the extra layer of security it provides definitely makes it worth doing. So do it. Now.

Image Credit: Jean-Etienne Minh-Duy Poirrier/Flickr

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FacebookPhone NumbersSecurityShortSocial MediaTech NewsTwo-Factor Authentication

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