Considering our Amazon accounts store a host of sensitive data, not least our credit card information, it’s a surprise the retailer only requires the simplest of passwords to keep out the crooks. They don’t even need to guess a special character, a number, or a capital letter!
Thankfully, all that has changed with the quiet introduction of two-factor authentication for Amazon accounts.
Although it hasn’t made an official announcement, reports on Wednesday revealed Amazon enabled the long overdue security boost a couple of weeks ago in users’ Account Settings.
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There they’ll be able to add a mobile phone to accompany the password. From that point on a security code will be sent to the phone every time users attempt a log in on another device.
Users can receive the code via SMS or link their Amazon.com account to any number of two-factor apps, like Duo Mobile, by scanning a QR code on the Amazon website.
The addition comes as most major service providers continue to add two-factor to their various offerings, in order to make it more difficult for unauthorised parties to access customer data.
It’s optional and not easy to find right now, but hopefully Amazon plans to make the feature mandatory sooner rather than later.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
