If you are an Apple user, you definitely have an iCloud account. After all, it’s the only way to experience the Apple ecosystem in all its glory. Recently, however, iCloud has become one of the favorite targets of hackers. Preventing unauthorized access and use of an iCloud account is exactly why Apple (and all other companies) recommend creating a strong password. But passwords can only protect you as long as no one can crack them. For a normal user, setting a very unpredictable password is not very useful; what if they forget? Therefore, to improve the security of iCloud accounts, Apple allows users to use two-factor authentication.
Why Use Two-Factor Authentication?
Two-factor authentication basically adds another layer of security after your password. This is useful because it means that even if someone knows your password, they will still need you to grant access. In iCloud, this is done by sending an alert asking if they want to allow access to the user’s phone. If they decide to “allow” access, they are presented with a six-digit code. This code must be entered on the machine trying to access iCloud and only then iCloud will grant access. So, if you want Enable two-step verification for your Apple ID, this is how you can do it:
Enable Two-Factor Authentication in iCloud
Before enabling two-factor authentication, you should know that all third-party apps that use your Apple ID will be signed out, and you will need to sign in again with app-specific passwords for each. I’ll cover this later; First, let’s talk about how to enable two-step verification on your Apple ID:
1. Using a Mac
If you have a Mac running El Capitan or later, you can set up two-factor authentication for your Apple ID by following these steps:
- “System Preferences -> iCloud -> Account Details“.
- you will be asked Enter your iCloud account password. After doing this, you will be redirected to the account management page.
- Here, click on the tab that says “Security”. At the bottom “Two-Factor AuthenticationClick the button that says “”Set up Two-Factor Authentication“.
- click “Go on”, In the dialog that opens.
simply follow the prompts To set up two-factor authentication on your Mac. Now whenever you or someone else tries to log into your iCloud account, you will get a prompt asking if you want to grant access to your Mac. If you choose Yes, you will be given a six-digit password that you must enter on the other machine to access iCloud. This ensures that even if someone else has your password, they cannot access your iCloud account without you knowing and expressly authorizing it.
2. Using iPhone
If you have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch running iOS 9 or later, you can use the device to set up two-factor authentication for your Apple ID by following these steps:
- on your iPhone “Settings -> iCloud“. Here, tap on your Apple ID.
- Tap on “Password and Security” and then “Turn On Two-Factor Authentication“.
Then you can follow the prompts to set up two-factor authentication using your iPhone. This will definitely help prevent unauthorized access to your iCloud account, and when someone logs into your iCloud account, you will be asked to decide whether you want to allow access or not.
Generate Application-Specific Passwords
Let’s say you are using iCloud mail with your [email protected] ID. When you enable two-step authentication on your Apple ID, your iCloud email account will be automatically closed from your mail client. You cannot use your iCloud password to sign in again. Since you have two-factor authentication enabled, you will need to create app-specific passwords for all your apps to make sure there are no rogue apps accessing your iCloud data without your knowledge.
To create app-specific passwords in iCloud, simply follow these steps:
1. In a browser, navigate to: your Apple ID page and sign in with your Apple ID.
2. Scroll down “Security”, and under “Application Specific PasswordsClick “Create Password”.
3. You will be prompted enter a tag for the application you created the password for. This is just so you can control which apps you have created passwords for.
After doing that, you will see a generated password. You must use this password to log into the third-party app you want to authorize.
SEE ALSO: How to Backup iPhone Using iTunes or iCloud
Use Two-Factor Authentication on Your iCloud Account
Using two factor authentication on your iCloud account will definitely make it much more secure. Anyone trying to access your iCloud account cannot do so unless you choose to allow it and share the six-digit verification password with them. This greatly reduces the chances of someone hacking into your iCloud account. However, you should still set a strong password and change it from time to time.
Support our work ❤️
If you enjoyed this article, consider leaving a tip to help us keep publishing great content.
