You can password protect your iPhones, iPads, or Macs, just like your Apple ID is password protected. But this basic security layer may not be enough in today's world. That's why it's great news that Apple is finally starting to launch two-factor authentication for Apple ID in the Czech Republic as well.
Two-factor authentication was introduced by Apple as a built-in security feature in iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan, and logically follows on from the previous two-factor authentication, which is not the same thing. Second factor Apple ID verification means that no one but you should be able to sign in to your account, even if they know your password.
[su_box title=”What is two-factor authentication?” box_color=”#D1000″ title_color=”D10000″]Two-factor authentication is another layer of security for your Apple ID. It ensures that only you, and only from your devices, can access your photos, documents, and other important information stored with Apple. It is a built-in part of iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan.
Source: Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC),[/ su_box]
The principle of operation is very simple. As soon as you log in with your Apple ID on a new device, you will not only need to use your classic password, but you will also need to enter a six-digit code. It will arrive on one of the so-called trusted devices, where Apple is sure that it really belongs to you. Then you just write the received code and you are logged in.
Any iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 9 or Mac running OS X El Capitan can become a trusted device on which you enable or log in with two-factor authentication. You can also add a trusted phone number to which an SMS code will be sent or a phone call will arrive if you don't have another device at hand.
In practice, everything works as follows: you activate two-factor authentication on your iPhone and then buy a new iPad. When you set it up, you'll sign in with your Apple ID, but you'll need to enter a six-digit code to continue. It will immediately arrive as a notification on your iPhone, where you first allow access to the new iPad and then the given code will be displayed, which you just describe. The new iPad suddenly becomes a trusted device.
You can set up two-factor authentication directly on your iOS device or on your Mac. On iPhones and iPads, go to Settings > iCloud > your Apple ID > Password & Security > Set up two-factor authentication… After answering the security questions and entering a trusted phone number, two-factor authentication is activated. On a Mac, you need to go to System Preferences > Account Details > Security > Set up two-factor authentication… and repeat the same procedure.
Apple releases two-factor authentication gradually to achieve the best possible results, so it is possible that on one of your devices (even if it has this security feature compatible) will not activate. Try all your devices though, as the Mac may report unavailable, but you'll be able to log in on the iPhone without a problem.
You can then manage your account again either in individual devices, where in the tab Equipment you see all trusted devices, or on the web on the Apple ID account page. You will also need to enter a verification code to enter there.
Once you've activated two-factor authentication, it's possible that some apps will ask you for a specific password. These are usually apps that do not have native support for this security feature because they are not from Apple. These may include, for example, third-party calendars that access data from iCloud. For such applications you must on the Apple ID account page in the section Security generate "app specific password". You can find more information on the Apple website.
On the two-factor authentication page at the same time, Apple explains, how the new security service differs from the two-factor authentication that worked before: “Two-factor authentication is a new service built right into iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan. It uses different methods to verify device trust and deliver verification codes and offers more user comfort. The current two-factor authentication will work separately for already registered users.”
If you want to keep your device and especially the data associated with your Apple ID as protected as possible, we recommend turning on two-factor authentication.
It doesn't work on my iPhone either. It says "Unavailable for your Apple ID at this time"
That's what it said to me, but go to appleid.apple.com and it worked for me :)
Yeah, thanks for the tip. :) it really worked there. Unfortunately, it wanted answers to questions I had long since forgotten. So I'm out of luck. Another try in three days. They won't let me in there before. :-))
I don't know at all that I set up the questions somehow :( What about that?
Call support ;)
Yeah, thanks, I've done it in the meantime and everything's OK :)
First of all, check if the AppleID is two-phase or two-factor on the page. I had the two-step dcou, not the two-factor
Not a problem. I said I wanted to reset them and after entering new answers, it only stopped me from running two-factor authentication for three days. It can be survived. :)
but how do I turn it on if I already have two-step verification active?
Same question…
Some time we will be so locked up that I won't even log in....
heh, join us at work :-) we are so locked up there that we basically can't even work.
ps: today's joke from the portal evstupenka.cz
My experience is negative, so I turned off the two-factor authentication again after half an hour of suffering.
I reinstalled the iPhone from DFU and a new authentication was offered. I confirmed, entered the phone number of the phone on which I did the reinstall and got to restore from iCloud. And that's where I got stuck, because there is no way to get to the SMS, the activation didn't go through and the only way was to turn off authentication from the computer and do a new reinstall.