Microsoft will soon roll out two factor authentication security service for its Microsoft accounts.
The security process is called "Two-step Verification".
This new enhanced security service will apply to Windows, Windows Phone, Xbox, SkyDrive and Office.
"With this release you can choose to protect your entire account with two-step verification, regardless of what service (or device) you are using with your Microsoft account," Eric Doerr, group program manager for Microsoft accounts, stated in a blog post. "It's your choice whether you want to enable this, but for those of you that are looking for ways to add additional security to your account, we've worked hard to make set-up really easy."
These two step verification services are already implemented by companies such as Apple, Facebook, Google, Paypal and more.
The goal of this new verification process is to minimize the the chance of online phishing, identity theft and other forms of hacking.
The account will be less vulnerable to these hacking as having just the password for the hackers will not be sufficient to break into the account.
However, users must be aware that who cannot remember their password will "not be able to regain access" to their account at all, Microsoft said.
"if you know your password but lose access to your secondary security proof, customer support cannot update it for you." Instead, people will have to go through a recovery process that enforces a 30-day wait, which is as good as a death sentence for any business or individual that depends on their Microsoft account.
Users can see the instructions on how to add a second form of authentication on the Microsoft Account settings page. The main form of secondary authentication will be a short code sent to the user's cellphone, the number of which Microsoft will keep , each time the user logs on.
