Mfa Glossary

Browse 11 mfa terms defined in plain English, from the cultural dictionary of computing.

11 Mfa Terms

Authentication Factor
A category of evidence used to verify identity, such as something you know, have, or are. Multiple authentication factors are combined in MFA to make account...
Hardware Key
A physical security device used to authenticate a user or perform cryptographic operations, often through standards such as FIDO2 or smart-card protocols....
Hardware Token
A physical token that generates one-time codes or performs secure cryptographic authentication for user access. Hardware tokens are widely used where stronger...
Multi-Factor
Describing authentication that requires more than one category of evidence, such as something you know, have, or are, rather than relying on a single password...
One-Time Password
A password or numeric code intended for a single login or short validity window, often generated by hardware tokens, authenticator apps, or delivered out of...
Out-of-Band Authentication
An authentication method that confirms identity over a separate channel from the main login session. It shows up in application security, identity,...
Physical Token
A tangible object used in authentication or access control, such as a hardware OTP device, smart card, badge, or FIDO key. Physical tokens can improve security...
SIM Swapping
An account takeover attack where a phone number is fraudulently transferred to an attacker-controlled SIM card. It shows up in application security, identity,...
Time-Based One-Time Password
A short authentication code generated from a shared secret and the current time window. It shows up in application security, identity, infrastructure, or...
Two-Factor Authentication
An authentication scheme requiring two distinct forms of verification — typically something you know (password) and something you have (phone, hardware key) —...
Two-Factor Fatigue
The exhaustion or desensitization caused by frequent two-factor authentication prompts, which can make users careless or more susceptible to prompt-bombing...

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