Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is an authentication method that requires a user to verify their identity using two different authentication factors when accessing an account, system, or application. A common example is entering a password followed by a one-time passcode received through SMS or generated by an authenticator app. 2FA is the simplest form of multi-factor authentication (MFA).
What is 2FA and how does it work?
Two-factor authentication (2FA) helps prevent attackers from accessing accounts even if they have obtained a user's password as a result of phishing, a data breach, or another cyberattack. Stolen username and password combinations can be exploited through techniques such as credential stuffing, in which compromised passwords are tried across multiple websites and applications.
2FA improves account security because it requires another authentication factor in addition to a password or other primary credential. Authentication factors are typically based on something you know, something you have, or something you are. Two-factor authentication methods range from SMS or email one-time passcodes (OTPs), authenticator apps, push notifications, and physical security keys to physiological and behavioral biometrics.
Organizations also need to balance security with user experience and availability. Some traditional 2FA methods require employees or customers to use a phone, install an app, or carry an additional device. TypingDNA Verify 2FA provides a phone-free alternative using typing biometrics. When 2FA is required, users simply type 4 short words displayed on-screen. Their typing pattern is compared with their previously enrolled pattern to verify their identity directly through the keyboard and browser, without requiring a phone or additional hardware.
For organizations that want to continue using SMS OTP, TypingDNA SMS+ strengthens the traditional SMS authentication flow instead of replacing it. Rather than sending the OTP directly in the SMS message, SMS+ sends a secure link. The user opens the link in their mobile browser and types 2 words; if the typing pattern matches, the OTP is revealed and can be entered as usual. This helps reduce risks associated with exposed SMS codes while preserving a familiar authentication flow.
Typing biometrics can therefore support 2FA in different ways. Verify 2FA can replace phone-dependent second factors with a keyboard-based authentication experience, while SMS+ can add a behavioral biometric layer to organizations that continue to rely on SMS OTP. Both approaches are designed to improve authentication security while minimizing additional friction for legitimate users.
