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Starting in mid-AugustComing Soon: 2-Factor Authentication for Students
31 July 2024, by Newsroom editorial office
Photo: University of Hamburg / Vogiatzis
Universities are also targeted by hackers. Secure passwords are not enough to prevent cyberattacks. In order to boost the security of our services, the University will implement the 2FA authentication for students too.
Why does the University need 2-factor authentication?
Several German universities already experienced hacker attacks that resulted in their being offline for weeks. It took just a few hours to prevent students and staff from accessing their emails. In addition to significant data losses, universities also saw themselves facing ransom demands.
To reduce the risk of cyberattacks on Universität Hamburg and increase device and data protection, the University has been introducing 2-factor authentication (2FA) for all of its employees and members since last year. Now, 2FA is being introduced for students.
What is 2FA?
Two-factor authentication, or 2FA for short, is a procedure in which users log into their device using not just their standard password but also identify themselves using a self-chosen “second factor.” This second factor can be, for example, a mobile phone or laptop. Users can access their data only after they have confirmed their identity through the second factor. Many people are already familiar with the principle, for example, from online banking.
As a student, what should I do now?
Wait for the initial individual email with the code list. The University is introducing 2FA step-by-step over several weeks and months. The Regional Computing Center (RRZ) at the University of Hamburg will send you all details and the code list via email. The code list is a personal list with numbers needed for your initial authentication.
Upon receipt of this list, you can directly start to register the desired devices for 2FA, ideally, your mobile phone too. When you have successfully registered your devices, you may deactivate the list.
