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Apple adds two-step verification to Apple ID

March 22, 2013 | By Paul Mah

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Apple is rolling out two-step authentication for its Apple ID users as an additional safety measure to protect user accounts.

Compared to a static password, hackers without possession of a physical device will find it significantly harder to log into a service such as Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) iCloud using an Apple ID. The feature is now available in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, though Apple is mum about the timeframes for rollouts in other regions.

Apple's two-step authentication implementation requires mobile devices to be validated prior making iTunes or App Store purchases, as well as for activities such as making changes to an account or performing a password reset, reports Wired. A recovery key will also be issued upon registration of trusted devices for enabling a forcible password reset should it become necessary.

The implementation of two-step authentication is important given the number of iOS smartphone and tablets appearing on corporate networks.

Some are arguing that this move by Apple is long overdue, and it also casts a spotlight on the urgent need for businesses to implement similar levels of protection. Indeed, many traditional enterprise apps, as well as popular business services such as Exchange Server, do not come with two-factor authentication by default.

For more:
- check out this article at Wired
- check out this article at CNET