The opening image of this article shows Ali Baba standing at the entrance to the legendary cave, ready to pronounce the famous password "Open Sesame." It's an iconic scene we all know: a single secret word was enough for the door to open, allowing the thieves to enter and plunder.
But let's imagine for a moment if the cave keepers had implemented the Multi-Factor AuthenticationIn addition to the magic word, Ali Baba would also have had to demonstrate possession of a specific object (perhaps a golden key) or pass a biometric check: the cave would have remained impregnable, and the story would have ended very differently.
In recent years, multi-factor authentication (MFA) has become an integral part of our digital lives. Once an experience almost exclusively reserved for banking platforms, MFA is now the new normal for social networks, e-commerce, cloud services, work platforms, and any app that handles sensitive data.
Digital security has become a priority, not only for large companies and financial institutions, but also for startups, SMEs, and anyone developing an online service for users.
Today the question is no longer “Does it make sense to implement MFA?”, but “How can I offer superior security without slowing down or complicating my users’ experience?”
The answer lies in the adoption of modern, scalable, intuitive, and increasingly robust authentication systems. In this scenario, MFA represents the minimum protection standard for safeguarding data, accounts, and transactions from increasingly sophisticated online threats.
Let's find out why integrating Multi-Factor Authentication into your app is a crucial choice in 2025—and how to explain it simply to even the most inexperienced users.
The web is full of contradictions. On the one hand, it makes every aspect of our lives easier and faster: managing our bank account, making purchases, sending money, booking travel, even consulting medical records. On the other, it subjects us to constant scrutiny and "hassles" regarding privacy and security: cookie banners, pop-ups, alerts, and new login procedures that, on the surface, only seem to complicate our lives.
Many of these measures are objectively annoying, like the cookie banners that no one really reads anymore. But if there's one thing that it's not just a nuisance, it's multi-factor authentication. Why? Because it solves a real problem: the fragility of our passwords and the ease with which our data can fall into the wrong hands.
The traditional login method based only on username and password Today, that's no longer enough. And not only because many users choose weak passwords ("123456," "qwerty," their name, or their date of birth), but because password theft techniques have become incredibly sophisticated.
Passwords stolen in data breachesEvery year, hundreds of millions of passwords are “stolen” from hacked sites and then sold online.
PhishingTechniques that lead users to enter their credentials on "copycat" sites that are indistinguishable from the originals.
Password hash cracking and rainbow tablesEven though sites don't store passwords in clear text but only save their "hash" (a sort of fingerprint), there are methods to trace the original passwords through automated calculations and gigantic databases of already decrypted hashes called rainbow tables.
Even the best passwords can be vulnerable. And users often use the same password on multiple sites, dramatically increasing the risk of compromise.
La Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) consists in forcing the user, during login, to pass at least two verification steps based on different factorsThis means that even if an attacker obtains your password, they still won't be able to log in without the second (or third) factor.
In 2025, authentication factors fall into three broad categories:
Something you know
It's the classic password, a PIN, or a secret answer.
Something you have
A smartphone, a physical token, a USB security key, an access card, an authentication app that generates temporary codes (e.g., Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator).
Something that you are
A biometric factor: fingerprint, facial recognition, iris scan, or voice.
In recent years the following have also been added:
Location: Verify that access is taking place from a recognized location (for example, geolocation via GPS).
Behavior: Analysis of how you type your password, the way you move the mouse or use the touch screen.
The key point is that each additional factor increases safety exponentially, because compromising two (or more) factors at the same time is much more difficult.
Until a few years ago, MFA seemed like something reserved for banks or large corporations. That's no longer the case.
Here because:
Automated attacks are becoming increasingly advancedHackers use automated systems (“bots”) to try thousands of passwords per second, using techniques like credential stuffing, which tries passwords stolen from other services.
Spread of cloud and online servicesSensitive data (ours and our customers') is often stored on external servers, accessible from anywhere in the world.
New regulationsIn Europe, GDPR and PSD2, but worldwide, privacy laws increasingly require MFA as a security requirement.
Image and trustA single case of data theft can jeopardize a company's reputation for years. Security today is also a matter of branding.
Today, MFA is no longer limited to the classic SMS with a one-time code (which remains effective, but not invulnerable: SIM swapping attacks are on the rise).
It can be integrated with:
Authentication App that generate temporary offline codes.
Push notifications that ask for confirmation of login on the smartphone.
Physical security keys compatible with standards such as FIDO2/U2F.
Biometry integrated into mobile devices.
A website or app without MFA is exposed to multiple risks:
Password hash crackingIf a password database is breached, passwords are often stored as "hashes." Hackers can use automated software to try millions of combinations and figure out the original password, especially if it's weak. Rainbow tables, which are large lists of pre-calculated hashes, further speed up attackers' work.
Targeted PhishingEven the longest password can be cracked with a specially crafted email or website.
Large-scale attacksIf a hacker gets hold of your password, try using it on all major online services. If you don't have a second factor, access is wide open.
With MFA enabled, even if the password falls into the wrong hands, the second or third "piece" is still needed to log in. And if the user receives an unsolicited login request, they'll notice immediately.
By 2025, MFA is no longer just a best practice: it has become a security standard required by users, regulations, and the market.
All major platformsCompanies from Google and Microsoft to Meta and Amazon are increasingly pushing the use of MFA, even making it mandatory for certain user categories. Biometrics are also becoming an integral part of MFA: many devices now require facial recognition or a fingerprint to confirm access.
But the MFA is also an opportunity for those who develop apps and digital services:
Demonstrate concern for user security and data.
Reduces the risk of accidents, fines, and reputational damage.
Simplify login procedures, thanks to methods like push notifications (one tap and you're in!).
Integrating MFA today is simple, fast and affordable.
Available technologies have evolved: you can choose from sending codes via SMS or WhatsApp, authentication apps, physical keys, and biometric systems. There are APIs and libraries for every programming language and platform, from iOS to Android, from web to desktop.
When you choose to implement MFA:
Offer users more options (not just SMS, but also apps, email, or push notifications).
Choose safe and recognized standards (such as FIDO2 or OAuth).
Remember to keep the process simple: poorly usable security won't be adopted by users.
Educate and inform your users about the real benefits: MFA is the most effective way to protect data and transactions.
What ten years ago might have seemed like just an "extra nuisance" today is the key to protecting your users and your business from real and daily risks.
Online threats are growing, but technology also offers us increasingly powerful and simple tools to defend ourselves.
Implementing MFA in your app or on your website is no longer just a recommended option, but a requirement to keep up with the times – and, above all, to ensure the security your users expect.
If you want to make your platform more secure and reliable, We at Pizero Design can help you integrate Multi-Factor Authentication on your iOS, Android apps and web services, using the best technologies and services available.
Contact us for a consultation: security has never been so simple and accessible.
