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Am I missing something? Why is this posted here and now? Edit to clarify my confusion: is this new? What's the difference between this and two factor verific

by capote 10y ago

Am I missing something? Why is this posted here and now? Edit to clarify my confusion: is this new? What's the difference between this and two factor verification (which we've had for a while)?

capote 10y ago
I'm not trying to attack or be rude; just a little confused. Cut the downvoting bullshit, grow up, and just answer the question if you can.
- n42 10y ago
  I believe you are confused because Apple previously offered "Two-Step Verification", and this is "Two-Factor Authentication". I myself am finding it difficult to find a clearly written explanation of the difference. EDIT: What I have discovered: It's now a 6 digit code (previously 4); and gives you more location based information with a map showing where the login is occurring from. You can also now "reject" the request, which will then open a prompt to ask if you'd like to change your password. Another new "feature" is that in order to support older devices that do not have Two-Factor Authentication built in, you can generate a verification code from a trusted device, and append that code to the end of your password.
jlian 10y ago
I believe this is a new system. It's called two-factor authentication as opposed to two-step verification. To quote the FAQ: > Is this different than Apple’s current two-step verification feature? > Yes. Two-factor authentication is a new service built directly into iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan. It uses different methods to trust devices and deliver verification codes, and offers a more streamlined user experience. The current two-step verification feature will continue to work separately for users who are already enrolled. Since I was already using two-step verification, I had to turn it off for the new, two-factor authentication, option to appear. I turned it on and it looks like it's working now. I have to agree that this was very confusing. EDIT: looks like I can authenticate from OS X now, nice. Before I had to always unlock my phone.
- capote 10y ago
  Nice catch--I didn't notice that. Should've had an article of its own.
- harlanlewis 10y ago
  Thank you for this clarification. I just recently noticed and enabled two step authentication, and would have assumed I was already using the new auth without your post.
- Razengan 10y ago
  > Since I was already using two-step verification, I had to turn it off for the new, two-factor authentication, option to appear. This can be very confusing and should be made more clear in Apple's documentation the iCloud Preferences UI on OS X.
zbuttram 10y ago
Seems like this is Apple's current explanation: > Yes. Two-factor authentication is a new service built directly into iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan. It uses different methods to trust devices and deliver verification codes, and offers a more streamlined user experience. The current two-step verification feature will continue to work separately for users who are already enrolled. Wish they would expound a bit more...
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
scarlac 10y ago
You are not alone. Here is how I understand it, there are two methods: 1. Two-Step verification 2. Two-Factor authentication 1 is the old method. 2 is new. With method 1 you can add devices manually as 'trusted'. Auth is a simple 4 digit code and contains no interesting info. With method 2 devices are automatically added if they are supported and you sign in. You cannot add devices via your account info manually. Codes are 6 digit and auth dialog includes a map with approximate location of login attempt. The new method also seems to be a more 'native' and better experience. Obviously, method 2 is preferred due to the 6-digit code and more info about the potential attacker (or trustee for those who do such things).
- cmrx64 10y ago
  Are the codes 6 digit? Do they actually show a map? I just set this up, and logged into icloud.com from a fresh Chrome session (having set it up on Firefox and not wanting to futz with sessions there), and I've only had to use 4 digit codes, and no such map. But I've only tried authenticating on websites (I don't have other Apple devices to test with). Also, I did have to add at least my iPhone manually at first. It seems like you might have it backwards? EDIT: My bad. I tried to set up 2FA, by following the "Manage your Account" link from the 2FA info page, but actually set up the old 2SV, with no 2FA options in sight... This is a grungier experience than I would (naively) expect from Apple, as a new Apple customer. Turns out you must set this up on a device, not through the website! They detail this halfway down the page in the "turn on" instructions.
themagician 10y ago
You are correct. They just changed the name. I've had this set up for a long time, and when I go into he settings in shows enabled.
- themagician 10y ago
  Definitely wrong about this. Freaking weird.
Twisell 10y ago
I didn't activate two-step verification cause the process was a little bit of a hassle (I'm lazy). But when upgrading to last iOS update I was prompted to activate two-step authentication and I was a really smooth process. Already experienced the 6 digit & map over last weeks so I didn't figured out at all this was new. I guess they first roll-out the feature on people like me who didn't activate old method. If everything goes fine I guess they will prompt everyone to switch to the new method on the next update.

by capote 10y ago

Am I missing something? Why is this posted here and now? Edit to clarify my confusion: is this new? What's the difference between this and two factor verification (which we've had for a while)?

capote 10y ago

I'm not trying to attack or be rude; just a little confused. Cut the downvoting bullshit, grow up, and just answer the question if you can.

n42 10y ago
I believe you are confused because Apple previously offered "Two-Step Verification", and this is "Two-Factor Authentication". I myself am finding it difficult to find a clearly written explanation of the difference. EDIT: What I have discovered: It's now a 6 digit code (previously 4); and gives you more location based information with a map showing where the login is occurring from. You can also now "reject" the request, which will then open a prompt to ask if you'd like to change your password. Another new "feature" is that in order to support older devices that do not have Two-Factor Authentication built in, you can generate a verification code from a trusted device, and append that code to the end of your password.

jlian 10y ago

I believe this is a new system. It's called two-factor authentication as opposed to two-step verification. To quote the FAQ: > Is this different than Apple’s current two-step verification feature? > Yes. Two-factor authentication is a new service built directly into iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan. It uses different methods to trust devices and deliver verification codes, and offers a more streamlined user experience. The current two-step verification feature will continue to work separately for users who are already enrolled. Since I was already using two-step verification, I had to turn it off for the new, two-factor authentication, option to appear. I turned it on and it looks like it's working now. I have to agree that this was very confusing. EDIT: looks like I can authenticate from OS X now, nice. Before I had to always unlock my phone.

capote 10y ago
Nice catch--I didn't notice that. Should've had an article of its own.
harlanlewis 10y ago
Thank you for this clarification. I just recently noticed and enabled two step authentication, and would have assumed I was already using the new auth without your post.
Razengan 10y ago
> Since I was already using two-step verification, I had to turn it off for the new, two-factor authentication, option to appear. This can be very confusing and should be made more clear in Apple's documentation the iCloud Preferences UI on OS X.

zbuttram 10y ago

Seems like this is Apple's current explanation: > Yes. Two-factor authentication is a new service built directly into iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan. It uses different methods to trust devices and deliver verification codes, and offers a more streamlined user experience. The current two-step verification feature will continue to work separately for users who are already enrolled. Wish they would expound a bit more...

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

scarlac 10y ago

You are not alone. Here is how I understand it, there are two methods: 1. Two-Step verification 2. Two-Factor authentication 1 is the old method. 2 is new. With method 1 you can add devices manually as 'trusted'. Auth is a simple 4 digit code and contains no interesting info. With method 2 devices are automatically added if they are supported and you sign in. You cannot add devices via your account info manually. Codes are 6 digit and auth dialog includes a map with approximate location of login attempt. The new method also seems to be a more 'native' and better experience. Obviously, method 2 is preferred due to the 6-digit code and more info about the potential attacker (or trustee for those who do such things).

cmrx64 10y ago
Are the codes 6 digit? Do they actually show a map? I just set this up, and logged into icloud.com from a fresh Chrome session (having set it up on Firefox and not wanting to futz with sessions there), and I've only had to use 4 digit codes, and no such map. But I've only tried authenticating on websites (I don't have other Apple devices to test with). Also, I did have to add at least my iPhone manually at first. It seems like you might have it backwards? EDIT: My bad. I tried to set up 2FA, by following the "Manage your Account" link from the 2FA info page, but actually set up the old 2SV, with no 2FA options in sight... This is a grungier experience than I would (naively) expect from Apple, as a new Apple customer. Turns out you must set this up on a device, not through the website! They detail this halfway down the page in the "turn on" instructions.

themagician 10y ago

You are correct. They just changed the name. I've had this set up for a long time, and when I go into he settings in shows enabled.

themagician 10y ago
Definitely wrong about this. Freaking weird.

Twisell 10y ago

I didn't activate two-step verification cause the process was a little bit of a hassle (I'm lazy). But when upgrading to last iOS update I was prompted to activate two-step authentication and I was a really smooth process. Already experienced the 6 digit & map over last weeks so I didn't figured out at all this was new. I guess they first roll-out the feature on people like me who didn't activate old method. If everything goes fine I guess they will prompt everyone to switch to the new method on the next update.