Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, is one of the best ways to keep your account and data secure. Even if someone guesses your Beacon password, they won't be able to access your account or view any supporter data.
Two-factor authentication involves providing a code, in addition to your login details, when you log in to Beacon.
We offer three different options for generating that code:
Authenticator app (Recommended)
Browser extension
SMS
At Beacon we take data security really seriously, so all admin users are required to have 2FA enabled, and we highly recommend all other users to enable it.
Setting up two factor authentication
With an authenticator app or browser extension
Go to Settings > My Preferences in your Beacon sidebar
Scroll to the Two factor authentication section, and click Enable now.
Download an authenticator app on your phone (recommended), or an extension for your browser.
For your phone, we recommend:
For your browser, we recommend:
Select 'Authenticator app', and with your app scan the QR code from your Beacon settings. This will add Beacon to your app, and give you your first code.
Enter the code from your app into Beacon.
Click Enable now. That's it!
With SMS / text messages
Go to Settings > My Preferences in your Beacon sidebar
Scroll to the Two factor authentication section, and click Enable now
Select 'SMS Message', enter your mobile phone number, and Beacon will send a test SMS to your phone
Enter the test code that was sent to your phone in an SMS message
Click Enable now. That's it!
Logging in with two factor authentication
When logging in to Beacon, you'll need to enter your email and password as normal.
You'll then be asked to enter a two-factor code from your authenticator app, browser extension, or SMS message.
Head to your app or open your text messages to retrieve your current code, and enter it to log in.
Finding two factor code with authentication app (e.g. Authy)
If you have opted to use an authentication app such as Authy to authenticate your Beacon account simply:
Open up the app on your phone or extension
Find the time sensitive code in the authentication app
Input the code into Beacon and that's it 😄
Finding two factor code using text message
If you have opted to receive your two factor code via text message, a message will be sent to your phone. Simply:
Open the message from Beacon
Copy the code from the text message
Input the code into Beacon and that's it!
Disabling two factor authentication
You can disable two-factor authentication in the Settings > My preferences page of your account:
Can't login? If you've changed your phone number or lost your phone, one of your account admins will be able to send you a link to login. Once you've logged in, you will need to disable your own Two-Factor Authentication and set it up again.
If you're the only admin, please chat to us at Beacon HQ and we can disable it on our end (We will need to verify that you are definitely you!).
Frequently asked questions
Why does Beacon require two-factor authentication?
We take our data security obligations very, very seriously. We don't want anyone to have a data breach, and one of the most effective ways to stop that is to enable two-factor authentication.
We have multiple people who all log in to the same user account. Won't two-factor authentication stop them logging in?
Sharing login details between multiple people is a huge security risk and against Beacon's Terms & Conditions. If you're doing this - don't!
Why haven't I been asked to enter my two-factor authentication for a while?
Two-factor authentication is only needed in a couple of scenarios:
It's been 30 days since you last input a two-factor authentication code.
You've logged in on a new device.
We don't want to bombard you with 2FA requests but we like to occasionally make sure it's still you using your device. However, if you've logged in to a new device we do want to be sure that it's you and not an individual with malicious intent.
Why do I keep being asked for my two-factor authentication?
We determine if you need to enter a 2FA code based on your security score. Lots of things will contribute to your score, but the most common reasons why you might need to enter your codes a lot are:
Using a VPN (it will appear you're on a new device every time)
Using private or incognito mode in your browser (it will appear you're on a new device every time)
Multiple Beacon users all using the same computer
Regularly travelling to a new location
These aren't the only reasons, but if you don't believe these apply to you feel free to reach out to our support team who can investigate for you.