14 DAY TRIAL // Yahoo has announced a new security option for its users, which should make it harder for unwanted persons to access accounts without permission. It's not the first big identity provider to enable the option, but it's good that Yahoo finally got on board.
If you want to add another layer of security to your Yahoo account, you can enable "second sign-in verification," what others call two-step verification or authorization.
Essentially, when enabled, Yahoo requires more than just the password to access an account, in certain situations. Those wanting to log will have to provide a code, from your phone, or the answer to a security question.
"To thwart account compromise, Yahoo! is introducing a stronger user authentication feature that aims to prevent account hijackers with a stolen password from accessing a person's account," Yahoo announced.
"If you have a Yahoo! account, you can now further protect it by activating this new second sign-in verification feature from Yahoo! Account Info. As part of the process, you will be required to add a mobile phone number to your account and verify it via SMS," it explained.
One caveat, for now, is that the feature, which is labeled as beta, only works in a few countries, the United States, Canada, India and the Philippines. However, Yahoo promises that it will be available to every Yahoo user by March next year.
It works just like any other two-step verification scheme out there, like the ones both Google and Facebook offer. If you, or someone else, tries to log in from a computer or device that you haven't logged in from before, you will be required to provide the code sent to you via SMS. No code, no access.
It's a really useful feature, especially since many people use Yahoo Accounts for a lot more than just Yahoo sites.