Common MFA Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is one of the best ways to protect your online accounts, but mistakes in setting it up or using it can leave you vulnerable to cyberattacks. Learn about the most common MFA mistakes and how to avoid them to keep your accounts secure.
🚀 Brought to you by Axio Networks, an award-winning managed IT provider in Scottsdale, Arizona. We help businesses and individuals implement MFA to prevent unauthorized access and cyber threats.
📌 Mistake #1: Using SMS for MFA Instead of an Authenticator App
🔹 Why It’s a Mistake:
✔ SMS codes can be intercepted through SIM-swapping attacks or phishing scams.
✔ Hackers can spoof phone numbers or redirect messages without your knowledge.
🔹 How to Avoid It:
✔ Use Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator instead of SMS.
✔ If SMS is the only option, make sure your carrier account is secured with a PIN.
✅ Authenticator apps generate codes on your device, making them much harder to intercept!
📌 Mistake #2: Using MFA Only for Important Accounts
🔹 Why It’s a Mistake:
✔ Many people enable MFA for email and banking, but not for social media, cloud storage, or work accounts.
✔ Hackers can exploit weaker, unprotected accounts to gain access to more sensitive ones.
🔹 How to Avoid It:
✔ Enable MFA on all accounts that support it, including:
- Email (Outlook, Gmail, Yahoo)
- Banking & financial apps
- Cloud storage (OneDrive, Google Drive)
- Social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)
- Work accounts (Microsoft 365, VPNs, Remote Desktop)
✅ If an account supports MFA, turn it on—every account matters!
📌 Mistake #3: Approving MFA Requests You Didn’t Initiate
🔹 Why It’s a Mistake:
✔ Hackers spam users with multiple MFA requests until they mistakenly approve one.
✔ If you approve an unknown request, an attacker can log into your account immediately.
🔹 How to Avoid It:
✔ Never approve an MFA request unless you initiated the login.
✔ If you receive unexpected requests, deny them and change your password immediately.
✔ Report suspicious login attempts to your IT department or account provider.
✅ MFA fatigue attacks rely on user mistakes—always verify requests before approving them!
📌 Mistake #4: Not Having a Backup MFA Method
🔹 Why It’s a Mistake:
✔ If you lose your phone or delete the authenticator app, you may get locked out of your account.
✔ Recovery can take days or weeks, depending on the service provider.
🔹 How to Avoid It:
✔ Set up a secondary MFA method (backup phone number, security key, or backup codes).
✔ Store recovery codes securely—Keeper Security or a password manager can help.
✔ Enable cloud backup in the Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator app.
✅ Backup options ensure you’re never locked out of important accounts!
📌 Mistake #5: Using the Same Device for MFA and Login
🔹 Why It’s a Mistake:
✔ If a hacker compromises your phone (malware, phishing, stolen device), they can bypass MFA easily.
✔ Using the same device for both login and authentication reduces security effectiveness.
🔹 How to Avoid It:
✔ Use a secondary device (tablet, security key) for authentication when possible.
✔ If you must use one device, enable a secure lock screen and biometric authentication.
✅ Keeping your authentication separate from your login device adds an extra layer of security!
📌 Mistake #6: Ignoring MFA Alerts and Notifications
🔹 Why It’s a Mistake:
✔ Most services notify you when MFA is disabled, reset, or accessed from a new location.
✔ If you ignore these alerts, hackers could disable MFA without you noticing.
🔹 How to Avoid It:
✔ Pay attention to email or app notifications related to MFA changes.
✔ If you receive an unexpected alert, secure your account immediately by changing your password.
✅ MFA alerts can warn you of suspicious activity—don’t ignore them!
📌 Mistake #7: Using Weak or Reused Passwords with MFA
🔹 Why It’s a Mistake:
✔ MFA is strong, but if your password is weak or reused, hackers can still compromise your account.
✔ If an attacker already has your password, they might trick you into approving an MFA request (MFA fatigue attack).
🔹 How to Avoid It:
✔ Use a unique, strong password for every account.
✔ Store passwords securely with Keeper Security or another password manager.
✔ Enable biometric authentication (Face ID, fingerprint) when available.
✅ MFA works best when combined with strong password hygiene!
📌 Mistake #8: Not Using Hardware Security Keys for Maximum Protection
🔹 Why It’s a Mistake:
✔ Software-based MFA (like authenticator apps) is strong but still vulnerable to phishing and social engineering.
✔ Hardware security keys (like YubiKey, Titan Key) provide unbreakable protection.
🔹 How to Avoid It:
✔ If your account supports hardware security keys, use them as your MFA method.
✔ For business accounts, enforce security key policies to protect sensitive data.
✅ Security keys provide the highest level of MFA protection!
📌 Mistake #9: Not Enforcing MFA in the Workplace
🔹 Why It’s a Mistake:
✔ If employees aren’t required to use MFA, they likely won’t enable it.
✔ Without MFA enforcement, businesses are at higher risk of phishing, credential-stuffing, and ransomware attacks.
🔹 How to Avoid It:
✔ Require MFA for all work accounts, including Microsoft 365, VPNs, and cloud services.
✔ Use Conditional Access Policies to enforce MFA for high-risk logins.
✔ Train employees on MFA best practices to prevent user errors.
✅ Business-wide MFA enforcement strengthens security and prevents data breaches!
📌 Mistake #10: Disabling MFA Because It’s “Inconvenient”
🔹 Why It’s a Mistake:
✔ Some users disable MFA because it takes extra time to log in.
✔ Cybercriminals target accounts without MFA because they are easier to hack.
🔹 How to Avoid It:
✔ Remember that MFA is an essential security layer—a few extra seconds is worth preventing an account takeover.
✔ If you want a faster experience, use a hardware security key or passwordless login.
✅ MFA is an easy step that provides massive security benefits—keep it enabled!
💡 Axio Networks Pro Tip
For business users, implementing MFA across all company accounts, VPNs, and remote access systems significantly reduces the risk of cyberattacks and unauthorized logins. Need help securing your company’s accounts? Axio Networks provides expert cybersecurity solutions—contact us today! 🚀