two-factor authentication

We all know that relying on a simple user ID and password combination is fraught with peril. One alternative is to use one of the single sign-on solutions we reviewed last year, but there are less expensive options that could also be easier to install.

As Twitter gets ready to roll out two-factor authentication, here's a rundown of how other major online services use the security feature.

SecurEnvoy and PasswordBank have joined forces to allow users to access multiple cloud services at the same time using their mobile phones.

Two-step account verification is a hot topic after hackers nearly wiped out the digital life of tech journalist Mat Honan recently, and Dropbox is the latest online service to enable the added security measure.

Two-step authentication is annoying, a bit tedious to set up, and makes more work out of the seemingly simple act of logging in. But if you rely on Google's services, two-step authentication is probably worth the hassle.