I know, "two-factor authentication software release" is a mouthful, but that's what my tech guys at Hoop.la have dubbed the software upgrade that occurred today. And here's why . . .
With the upgrade today, several small features were added, but there are only two that really affect members. First, Cookie Connection now supports two-factor authentication (2FA), which provides an extra layer of security on the site by giving members the option of associating mobile devices with their accounts. I'm sure you've seen similar functionality before on other sites, but basically if you opt to enable 2FA on your member profile, you will be taken through a series of steps to register your account/device on the Google Authenticator app (available for iOS or Android), which then issues security codes for you to provide when you access this site.
To enable this feature, simply go to "Update Profile" under your member avatar, scroll down to the "Security" area, and then hit "enable" next to "Two-Factor Authentication".
The site will then walk you through a few steps to register your account with your device, including downloading the Google Authenticator app, scanning a bar code, and then entering another code. (Though this is a nifty feature and easy to enable, I've left it disabled on my account. You, of course, have the option to either enable it or leave it disabled, which is the current default.)
The second change relates to password length. To further increase security, Hoop.la now requires that Cookie Connection account passwords be at least 8 characters long (previously, the minimum was 6). Please note that existing members will not be forced to change their passwords. The new minimum will only apply when or if you try to change your password.
And that's all she wrote! If you have any questions about this upgrade, just leave them below!
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