How to Setup Two-Factor Authentication for Home Network Security

A big variety of digital threats have appeared with the rise of Smart Homes' popularity. And more often our Internet-of-Things networks are becoming a target for potential privacy invasions and spyware. But we still can enjoy the convenience of Smart Home technologies, by taking a few simple measures and using reliable security tools. Let’s have a comprehensive look at such aspects of digital safety as two-factor authentication and figure out how to enhance the security of your home network.

There are various network security platforms available for home use. Before choosing one, compare its features and pricing and ensure the platform integrates with two-factor authentication. Potential network security platforms for home use include

• Routers with built-in security features (Norton Core, Bitdefender Box, and CUJO)
• Third-party security software (antiviruses, password managers, VPN clients)
• Network security appliances (firewalls and intrusion detection systems).

Big companies and home networks can both be vulnerable to malware and hackers. Measure to protect include both software and hardware solutions. Here are some examples of physical or virtualized hardware appliances with vendor-specific software installed.

• Firewalls. A firewall is a kind of filter that separates your internal network from the wider Internet. It blocks connections on specific ports, from specific IP addresses, and from machines or networks matching other criteria. You can manage those IP blocklists to create the safe network you need.
• Intrusion Protection Systems (IPS). Network-based intrusion protection systems are created to monitor all of the traffic going through your network.
• Unified Threat Management (UTM). UTMs combine a network firewall, an intrusion detection system, an intrusion prevention system, and other features. This kind of protection is popular with smaller businesses that don’t have significant IT resources to protect their networks.
• Network Access Control. To improve your corporate network security it is crucial to keep your endpoints configured correctly to minimize the risk of getting infected.  
• Email Security Gateways. These devices monitor incoming and outgoing email traffic for spam, viruses, phishing attempts, and compromised accounts.
• Web Application Firewalls (WAF). A WAF can block URLs and requests containing suspicious payloads, evidence of SQL injection attempts, and other attacks. 
• VPN Gateways. With the rise of remote work, companies want to ensure that their internal network is protected from outer threats. A virtual private network or VPN device can provide this protection. When all the company employees connect to the VPN, their traffic enters the internal network from the VPN device instead of going straight to the internet.

Home network security system is subject to regular testing and monitoring to guarantee its effective work. As a result of security monitoring, you can get a big amount of important data:

• Potential vulnerabilities. Regular testing can help detect various weaknesses in your network security system. Usually, they are outdated software or misconfigured settings. So you can make timely changes and fix the issues.
• Possible threats. Security system monitoring allows you to detect unusual or suspicious activity and prevent unauthorized access attempts, malware, or phishing attacks, and take appropriate action to mitigate them.
• Industry standards compliance. Testing and monitoring your security system can help you analyze whether you need some improvements and get some insights on how to protect your data and privacy more effectively.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) can be an effective security measure for your home network. However, like any security system, it's not perfect, and some issues may arise. Here are examples of some of them and ways how to troubleshoot them:

1. Lost or stolen device: If you’ve lost your 2FA device, you will not be able to access your TFA-protected accounts. That’s why it is important to have a backup device and a backup of all your accounts. If you have any issues with authorization you can always apply to the Customer Support service.
2. Incorrect security code: If you see an error about the correctness of a unique security code, ensure that you are entering the right one and that the time on your device is accurate. Some services also allow the regeneration of a new code.
3. Compatibility issues: Depending on the year of manufacturing of your device it can be not compatible with the chosen 2FA protection method. Try email or mobile phone method rather than an authenticator app or upgrade your device or browser.
4. False positives: Sometimes, 2FA can be triggered incorrectly, which may result in a false positive. In this case, contact the support team of the authentication service you are using and follow their process to regain access to your account.
5. Inconvenient or bulky: Some users consider the 2FA method to be inconvenient. But you can believe us, restoring and managing losses of data leakage or privacy violence can be much more inconvenient. So, the best practice is to use 2FA as a compulsory protection measure.