Are bank text codes enough to protect you?

Bank information tin consciousness confusing due to the fact that each relationship seems to grip it differently. One slope sends a text. Another sends an email. Another asks you to o.k. a login wrong its app. So erstwhile idiosyncratic says, "Use stronger two-factor authentication," it is just to wonderment what that really means. 

Kyra from West Plains, Missouri, reached retired to america asking:

I watched your podcast video wherever you talked astir two-factor authentication and getting codes by email from your slope and different accounts. My accounts look to bash that automatically, arsenic acold arsenic I know. Is that enough, oregon bash I request to interaction my slope to marque definite it's acceptable up correctly

Kyra, this is simply a large question due to the fact that a batch of radical are successful the aforesaid boat. They spot a codification popular up and presume they are afloat protected. The information is simply a small much complicated. Text oregon email codes are amended than having lone a password.

Text and email codes, however, are not ever the strongest options. Scammers person recovered ways to bargain codes, instrumentality radical into sharing them oregon instrumentality power of a telephone fig done a SIM swap scam. Once scammers power your number, they whitethorn person the substance codes needed to get into accounts that usage SMS-based multi-factor authentication.

TOP MULTI-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION APPS TO PROTECT YOUR ACCOUNTS

Bank customers utilizing text-message information codes whitethorn inactive look risks from SIM swap scams and phishing attacks. Cybersecurity experts urge stronger login extortion erstwhile available. (Anna Barclay/Getty Images)

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What two-factor authentication really does

Two-factor authentication, besides called 2FA oregon multi-factor authentication, adds different measurement erstwhile you log in. Instead of relying lone connected your password, the relationship asks for thing other to beryllium it is truly you.

That "something else" mightiness beryllium a codification sent by text, a codification from an authenticator app, a information cardinal oregon a punctual wrong your bank's mobile app. Two-factor authentication is 1 of the champion ways to support your accounts due to the fact that it adds a 2nd furniture beyond your password. 

So, Kyra, if your slope already sends you a code, that is simply a bully sign. It means immoderate signifier of other extortion is turned on. But the adjacent question is whether your slope offers a stronger option.

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Why substance connection codes are not the strongest choice

Text connection codes are fashionable due to the fact that they are casual to use. Most radical cognize however to work a substance and benignant successful a code. That convenience comes with risk.

A SIM swap scam happens erstwhile a transgression tricks your telephone bearer into moving your telephone fig to a instrumentality they control. Once that happens, your calls and texts whitethorn spell to the scammer alternatively of you. The American Bankers Association warns that scammers whitethorn effort to intercept two-factor authentication codes truthful they tin entree fiscal accounts.

Scammers tin besides call, substance oregon email portion pretending to beryllium your bank. They whitethorn accidental determination is fraud connected your relationship and inquire you to work backmost a code. That codification whitethorn really beryllium the cardinal they request to log in. Scammers often effort to instrumentality radical into sharing verification codes due to the fact that they request some the password and the codification to interruption into an account.

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That is wherefore the safest regularisation is simple: Never stock a slope information codification with anyone who contacts you. A existent slope should not telephone and inquire you to work backmost a login code.

Why an authenticator app is usually better

When your slope supports it, an authenticator app is usually a stronger prime than substance messages. Apps specified arsenic Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, Authy and Duo Mobile make a changing six-digit codification connected your phone.

The large vantage is that the codification is created wrong the app. It usually works adjacent erstwhile you bash not person compartment service. It besides does not beryllium connected your telephone number, which helps trim the hazard from SIM swap scams.

That said, authenticator apps are not magic. If you benignant a codification into a fake banking website, a scammer whitethorn inactive seizure it. One-time password authentication isn’t phishing-resistant. Still, authenticator apps region immoderate of the biggest weaknesses tied to text-message codes.

NEW PHISHING ATTACK USES REAL-TIME INTERCEPTION TO BYPASS 2FA 

Two-factor authentication adds a 2nd furniture of extortion to online banking accounts, but not each methods connection the aforesaid level of security. Authenticator apps and passkeys are mostly safer than substance codes. (Kyle Ericksen/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images)

The strongest option, if your slope offers it

Some banks and fiscal services springiness you stronger ways to beryllium it is truly you erstwhile you log in. Two of the strongest options are hardware information keys and passkeys.

A hardware information cardinal is simply a tiny carnal device, often shaped similar a USB stick, that you plug into your machine oregon pat against your telephone to o.k. a login.

A passkey lets you motion successful utilizing your device, specified arsenic your telephone oregon computer, often with Face ID, Touch ID, a fingerprint oregon a surface lock.

These options are harder for scammers to bargain due to the fact that they are designed to enactment lone with the existent website oregon app. That means a fake banking website usually cannot instrumentality them the aforesaid mode it tin instrumentality idiosyncratic into typing successful a substance code.

For astir people, the safest bid is simple: usage a information cardinal oregon passkey if your slope supports it. If not, usage an authenticator app. If substance codes are the lone option, support them turned connected due to the fact that they are inactive amended than utilizing lone a password.

How to cheque your bank's information settings

You whitethorn not request to sojourn a branch. In astir cases, you tin cheque this from your bank's authoritative website oregon app.

Start from a machine if you can. Go straight to your bank's authoritative website by typing the web code yourself. Do not click a nexus from a substance oregon email, adjacent if it looks real.

Then look for a conception with a sanction like:

• Security
• Login & Security
• Privacy & Security
• Two-Factor Authentication
• Multi-Factor Authentication
• 2-Step Verification

Once you are there, look for an enactment called Authenticator app. Some banks whitethorn usage antithetic wording, specified arsenic authentication app, one-time passcode app, TOTP, information app oregon third-party authenticator. If you spot that option, travel the setup steps. Your slope volition usually amusement a QR codification connected your machine screen. Open your authenticator app connected your phone, pat Add relationship oregon the + button, past scan the QR code. The app volition make a six-digit code. Enter that codification connected your bank's website to corroborate setup.

Do not skip the backup codes

This portion matters much than radical realize. If your slope gives you backup codes, prevention them close away. Print them and store them determination safe, oregon spot them successful a unafraid password manager. These codes tin assistance you get backmost into your relationship if your telephone gets lost, damaged oregon replaced.

Also, marque definite your slope has your existent email code and telephone fig connected file. If your betterment accusation is old, getting backmost into your relationship tin go overmuch harder.

If you stock entree with a spouse oregon trusted household member, inquire your slope however further users should acceptable up their ain unafraid login. Avoid sharing 1 password oregon 1 authenticator codification erstwhile the slope offers abstracted idiosyncratic access.

What to bash if your slope lone offers substance codes

Some banks whitethorn not connection a third-party authenticator app, but whitethorn fto you o.k. logins wrong the bank's ain mobile app. That tin beryllium stronger than a substance connection due to the fact that the support happens wrong the banking app alternatively than done your telephone number.

AMERICA'S MOST-USED PASSWORD IN 2025 REVEALED

If yours lone offers text-message codes, bash not crook them off. Text codes are inactive amended than nary 2nd furniture astatine all. However, you should inquire your slope whether it supports a stronger option. You tin telephone the fig connected the backmost of your debit oregon recognition card, usage unafraid messaging wrong the bank's app oregon sojourn a branch.

Ask this: "Do you enactment authenticator apps, passkeys, hardware information keys oregon app-based login support for online banking?"

If the reply is no, support substance codes turned on. Then fortify the parts you tin control. Use a beardown and unsocial slope password, and store it successful a trusted password manager truthful you bash not person to retrieve it oregon reuse it anyplace else. Check retired the champion expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 astatine CyberGuy.com.

In addition, inquire your mobile bearer to adhd a port-out PIN, fig transportation fastener oregon relationship information PIN to assistance trim SIM swap risk. Also, crook connected relationship alerts for transfers, password changes and caller instrumentality logins.

 HOW SIM SWAPPING LED TO A $1.8M CYBER FRAUD CASE

Security experts pass that scammers tin intercept substance verification codes oregon instrumentality customers into sharing them. Customers should ne'er supply login codes to unsolicited callers oregon texts. (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/picture confederation via Getty Images)

Should Kyra interaction her bank?

Yes, but she astir apt does not request to locomotion into a subdivision unless she prefers in-person help. Kyra should archetypal log successful to her bank's authoritative website oregon app and cheque the information settings. If she sees an authenticator app, passkey, information cardinal oregon app-based support option, she should see utilizing it. If she lone sees substance oregon email codes, she should support them turned connected and interaction the slope to inquire whether stronger login options are available.

She should besides marque definite her slope password is beardown and unique, support her email relationship with beardown two-factor authentication and corroborate that her relationship alerts are turned on.

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Kurt's cardinal takeaways

Kyra's question gets to the bosom of relationship security. Seeing a codification get by substance oregon email tin consciousness reassuring. And yes, it is amended than relying connected a password alone. However, slope accounts merit the strongest extortion your slope offers. If you tin determination from substance codes to an authenticator app, that is simply a astute upgrade. If your slope supports a passkey oregon information key, adjacent better. And nary substance which method you use, ne'er springiness a information codification to idiosyncratic who calls, texts oregon emails you retired of the blue.

Have you checked whether your slope inactive relies connected substance codes, and would you power banks if yours refused to connection stronger login protection? Let america cognize by penning to america astatine CyberGuy.com.

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