Apple has recently enabled two-factor authentication for iCloud backups, further expanding the security of your iCloud account, allowing users to secure iPhone and iPad backups with more than just a regular password. If you still haven’t enabled two-factor authentication for iCloud, now is the time to do it.
After the recent celebrity photo leaks that apparently have their iCloud accounts hacked, more and more users are starting to second guess the security of their iCloud accounts, and one way to make it even more secure over a regular password is to enable two-factor authentication.
We’ll explain what it is and how you can enable it in your Apple iCloud account to make it even more secure.
What is Two-Factor Authentication?
Before enabling such a feature, you need to know how it works.
Two-factor authentication is a relatively new way to secure your various web accounts using more than just a regular password. Instead, two-factor authentication requires a verification code that is sent to a trusted device you own, such as your smartphone, in addition to the regular password. You need these two things to sign into an account with two-factor authentication enabled.
This is a much safer way, given that any hacker who wants to access your web account will need your smartphone as well, as they will need the verification code to be sent to them. This will be somewhat difficult for hackers to achieve, as they will also need to steal your smartphone.
Fortunately, Apple has two-factor authentication for your iCloud account, and there’s no better time to set it up than now.
How to Set Up iCould Two-Factor Authentication
The first thing you’ll want to do is to go to appleid.apple.com and click to sign in to your Apple ID account. From there, log in using your credentials.
After logging in, click on the left sidebar. Before you can access this section, you will need to answer some security questions. Questions are questions you set yourself when you sign up for an Apple ID.
Once you’ve answered your security questions correctly, you’ll finally be on a page where you can start setting up two-factor authentication, which Apple calls “Two-Step Verification” since there are several different names for the feature.
Go ahead and click Get Started; You will get a brief introduction to what two-factor authentication is and how it works. If during this intro something happens that you think you might not be interested in using, you can always back out, but if you still want to install it, keep clicking.
This is where you will hit a temporary road block. For added security, Apple won’t let you enable two-factor authentication until three days have passed. It may seem a little strange, but it is a method of preventing quick and dirty hacks from happening. Therefore, once you decide you want to enable the feature, you will have to wait three days.
But after this time has passed, go back and follow the previous steps by logging into your Apple ID account and click below the block in the section.
The first step is to add a phone number that can receive SMS text messages. This number doesn’t have to be your iPhone’s number, as it could be a trusted friend’s number or another phone number you own and use. You will then receive a verification code via text message that you enter on the website. After entering, your phone number will be successfully added.
You can also have any of your iOS devices authenticated to be used to verify your identity. Just click on the icon next to the device and you will again receive a verification code that you will enter on the website. It’s important to note that only iOS devices with Find My iPhone enabled with your Apple ID are allowed to be used as trusted devices with two-factor authentication.
After adding a phone number and verifying all your iOS devices you want verified, click it to proceed to the next step of the setup.
The next thing you will do is print or write the Recovery Key provided. When you do either of the two options, you will be prompted to write back to confirm to Apple that you have a copy. Click to go to the next step.
The last thing you need to do before enabling two-factor authentication is to accept the terms, which are essentially the terms you’ll be dealing with when you activate the service. Put a check mark next to , and then click .
The next screen confirms that you have enabled the feature. Just click to finish the process and exit the installation.
