What does multi-factor authentication aim to achieve?

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) aims to ensure that users are who they claim to be by requiring multiple forms of verification before granting access to a system. This typically involves a combination of something the user knows (like a password), something the user has (such as a hardware token or a smartphone app for generating a one-time password), and something the user is (biometric verification like fingerprints or facial recognition). By combining these factors, MFA significantly increases the security of authentication processes, as it becomes much harder for unauthorized individuals to gain access even if they have compromised one of the authentication factors, such as a password.

This approach addresses the vulnerabilities associated with single-factor authentication, where merely knowing a password could be sufficient for gaining access. MFA reduces the risk of unauthorized access and improves overall security by ensuring that even if one factor is compromised, additional verification is still required. Thus, the core objective of MFA is not only to authenticate users more securely but also to provide assurance about their identity.