In my YouTube video discussing whether cloud accounting is safe (link here: https://youtu.be/tPJAj_K_G5g), I mention using 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) to make your QB Online account more secure.
You may have seen 2-Factor Authentication with your online banking or some other online accounts. It’s where the website will send you a text message with a code (usually 6 digits, for example: 454-827), and then you have to type the code on the site to continue logging in. Your password is the first “factor” to login, and then the text message code is the second factor. Hence, two-factor authentication.
It’s more secure because the idea is that only you should have access to your text messages. If someone figures out your username and password, hopefully this step stops them.
Here are the steps to turn on 2-factor authentication:
- Go to the Gear menu at the top-right of the QBO window and choose “User Profile.”
- In your profile settings, make sure you have a correct cell phone number added to your account, and click “Turn On” in the “two-step verification” section. It will ask you if you want to use a text message or phone call to verify your identity. If you set it up correctly, “Turn On” should change to “On.”
- Next time you login, you should see a prompt like the following. QBO might remember your computer and not ask you to do this every single time.
