14 DAY TRIAL // Kickass Torrents (KAT) has added an extra layer of security for their users by providing them with the option to turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) for their account.
For the non-initiated, 2FA is a second layer of authentication past your password. If an account has 2FA turned on, once the user enters the correct username and password, they'll have to enter a second code, sent to them via email or to their phone via SMS.
2FA is a common feature for large Web services like Facebook and Google, and commonly used to protect online banking portals.
While 2FA for a torrent portal might seem like an exaggeration, some users are paranoid when it comes to online identities and might appreciate KAT's gesture.
KAT's 2FA works via third-party authenticator apps
KAT turned on 2FA for their users last week, and to benefit from this new feature, you should log on the site and access the Settings section by hovering your username in the top right corner.
Once the Settings panel is opened, click the Profile section and scroll to the bottom, where it says Two-Factor Authentication. To turn it on, click the "Enable" button. This will redirect you to a new page that all users should read since it explains how 2FA works.
Basically, users are required to install a mobile app on their phones through which to receive one-time KAT verification codes every time they log in.
KAT recommends users to use mobile apps such as OTP Auth or Free OTP to request and receive these one-time verification codes. KAT admins warn users against using GoogleAuthenticator.
The code provided during this stage can also be used later on to recover accounts in situations where the user has lost access to their phone or the 2FA authenticator app. Users should probably write this code down somewhere.
