Facebook finally stops screwing around with two-factor authentication

Take a deep breath. Facebook just did something good.

The company announced in a May 23 blog post that it would no longer require a phone number to set up two-factor authentication, and would instead allow for the use of an authenticator app. Such apps, like Google Authenticator, are widely acknowledged to be an improvement over SMS-based 2FA.

For those unfamiliar, two-factor authentication provides a second layer of security to online accounts. In addition to the standard password, you need a second factor — usually a number texted to your cellphone or generated by an authenticator app —to login. For those who worry about phishing attempts or any kind of hacking (which should be everyone on the internet), setting up 2FA is a must.  Read more...