In 2020, there was an increase in cyberattacks and related criminal activity world-wide. These attacks heightened the community’s awareness, concerns and expectations around privacy and security issues. Cybersecurity best practices have shown that two-factor authentication (2FA) is one of the most effective tools for preventing phishing and targeted attacks on your accounts and data.
York University’s Information Technology department is pleased to advise that activation of Duo, two-factor authentication for students, Faculty and staff will begin week of Feb. 8, starting with activation of those with surname beginning with ‘A’, and will continue alphabetically until all community members have been enrolled. We expect to complete the process by the end of April 2021.
Once your account is activated, your next Passport York login will prompt you to follow the 2FA setup process. Setup is fast and easy but if it is not a convenient time you can skip the setup step for up to 14 business days. After 14 business days the system will not allow you to go further unless your account has completed the 2FA setup process.
The process requires a second source of validation such as your smartphone to verify your login before granting you access. This way, even if your password were compromised, your account will be protected by 2FA.
Some of the benefits of 2FA include:
- Protection of your York accounts and data from others accessing your account, even if they know your password.
- Protection of all major York applications using Passport York, including Office 365.
- One-press login validation for the most secure and convenient experience with Duo Mobile authentication, which can work with or without cellular data or Wi-Fi access.
- Free Duo Mobile app download for iOS and Android.
To learn more about Duo two-factor authentication, visit the York University’s 2FA website.