Last updated on March 26, 2024
If current trends persist, account takeover (ATO) attacks and ransomware attacks are likely to surpass malware as the cyberthreat of greatest concern. Account takeover attacks are currently the second-most important threat and are predicted to take the lead in one or two years from now. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is one of the best ways to protect yourself against account takeover attacks. Here’s why.
How Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Prevents Account Takeover Attacks
While there are many vectors of account takeover (ATO) attacks, all successful attacks of this kind have one thing in common: At some point, the hacker gains unauthorized access to an account. Given that, the best defense against ATO attacks is to increase the account’s security. In other words, you have to do something to ensure the likelihood of your account getting compromised is very low.
Generally, hackers gain access to accounts by compromising the password. If a single password is the sole line of defense between your data and the cybercriminal, you must add another layer of protection for your account. Passwords are weak and easy to break. You need something that will deny the hacker even if they successfully crack your password. You need Multi-Factor Authentication.
Multi-Factor Authentication, or MFA for short, introduces an extra layer of security to user logins. To gain access, a person claiming to be the account owner must demonstrate at least two distinct proofs of identity. With MFA, even if a hacker breaks one factor, e.g., your password, the other factor still protects you and thwarts the cybercriminal.
Google Shows Strong MFA Prevents 100% of Account Takeover Attacks
Multi-Factor Authentication can prevent 99.9% of attacks on your accounts, according to Microsoft. Now, that makes a difference.
But there is a much more interesting (and enlightening) study from Google that shows how effective MFA is.
Google’s security blog put out data that shows that Multi-Factor Authentication prevents the vast majority of Account Takeover (ATO) attacks. But a much more important finding is that the stronger the authentication method, the stronger the protection against ATO attacks. Account takeover prevention rates differ depending on the MFA challenge type. Device-based challenges provide adequate protection against hackers. For one, SMS 2FA protects against 100% of account takeover attacks coming from automated bots, 96% from bulk phishing attacks, and 76% from targeted attacks. On-device prompts, Google’s equivalent of our Mobile Push authentication request, prevents 100%, 99%, and 90% of these attack types, respectively.
Astoundingly, users who have exclusively used security keys achieved 100% protection against takeover attacks from automated bots, bulk phishing, and targeted attacks. In other words, zero users that used security keys fell victim to an account takeover attack.
Account Takeover MFA Protection: 3 Key Takeaways
Here are some key points about using MFA to prevent ATO attacks:
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all your users – gain a spectacular account security boost
- Stick to the most secure authentication methods: WebAuthn/U2F Security Key and Mobile Push for best protection – the authentication method counts
- Deploy MFA (not 2SA) – knowledge-based challenges are weaker than device-based challenges
Looking for more tips on preventing Account Takeover attacks besides deploying MFA? Here are 7 Ways to Protect Yourself Against Account Takeover Attack.
MFA Is the Way to Go. Consider Rublon.
OK, so you need Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Rublon is an excellent choice.
Rublon supports hundreds of applications and VPNs. We also support RDP, RD Gateway, and RD Web Access. Further, you can use Active Directory or a RADIUS server as your identity provider. Single Sign-On (SSO)? Check. Adaptive Authentication? Check. A dedicated authenticator app? Check. Support for WebAuthn/U2F security keys? Check. Rublon has it all.
Still not convinced? See for yourself by starting a Free 30-Day Rublon Trial.
