A Simple Step That Protects What You’ve Worked a Lifetime to Build

When I head to bed at night, I lock my door and put on the deadbolt. I’m not expecting trouble, but the two locks combined add an extra layer of protection.  

Today, your financial life lives online. Just like your home, it deserves more than a single lock. That’s where an authenticator app comes in.

What Is an Authenticator App?

Think of your password as a key. An authenticator app is a second lock – a deadbolt. It changes every 30 seconds and lives only on your phone or tablet.

Even if someone were to steal your password, they still couldn’t get in without that second, constantly changing code.

Why Text Messages Aren’t Enough Anymore

Many people use text messages as their second form of authentication. It is better than nothing, but it’s an easy lock to pick. Criminals know how to intercept texts or trick phone companies into redirecting those texts.

Authenticator apps are viewed as providing enhanced security over text messaging.

Is This Going to Be Complicated?

That’s a fair question. The honest answer: no.

Once you do the initial set-up, using an authenticator app typically means:

1. Entering your password on the website
2. Opening the app
3. Typing in a short, six-digit number into the website where prompted

How it Applies to ThirtyNorth’s Access

Most of you have access to your account information via Charles Schwab and Black Diamond. Both platforms now support enhanced multi-factor authentication (MFA) using an Authenticator App.

Schwab offers MFA through the VIP Access by Symantec app. You can also use this app as your Black Diamond authenticator, or choose another, such as Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator.

By going to the security settings within both websites and finding the security section, you can follow their prompts to set up your authenticator app. Feeling uncertain? Email Paris, and she will send you step-by-step instructions for both Schwab and Black Diamond, or walk you through over the phone.

Financial fraud increasingly targets people who have built meaningful savings over decades. Using an authenticator app is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce that risk. Please consider adding the deadbolt!

‍

For disclosures, please click here.

‍