I see that the comment I initially replied to has been edited, but it still reads as though the second factor of 2FA is itself 2FA:
Because passwordless authentication is awesome and needs to be the standard. It’s basically just skipping the password and going straight to 2FA, which is the main security behind any account that you’ve got 2FA on.
2FA stands for two-factor authentication. The typical case you’re describing:
Factor 1: password
Factor 2: device check, usually
That second step of device verification itself isn’t 2FA, it’s only the second factor of that particular 2FA, and the reason your account is more secure behind it isn’t because it’s a device check but because it’s a second factor. There’s not really a “main” security check in 2FA because having two is the whole point.
I do have thoughts about passwordless as a standalone security measure, but that’s not at all what I’m addressing here. I will add, however, that since passwordless can only ever be as strong as the security on your email account…it might seem like enough if your email is protected by 2FA—but not if you mistakenly leave your email logged in on a device someone else has access to, which may sound stupid but it definitely happens.
lovely_reader@lemmy.world 9 hours ago
I see that the comment I initially replied to has been edited, but it still reads as though the second factor of 2FA is itself 2FA:
2FA stands for two-factor authentication. The typical case you’re describing:
Factor 1: password Factor 2: device check, usually
That second step of device verification itself isn’t 2FA, it’s only the second factor of that particular 2FA, and the reason your account is more secure behind it isn’t because it’s a device check but because it’s a second factor. There’s not really a “main” security check in 2FA because having two is the whole point.
I do have thoughts about passwordless as a standalone security measure, but that’s not at all what I’m addressing here. I will add, however, that since passwordless can only ever be as strong as the security on your email account…it might seem like enough if your email is protected by 2FA—but not if you mistakenly leave your email logged in on a device someone else has access to, which may sound stupid but it definitely happens.