How to enable two-factor authentication for Professional and Pro Plus Email Hosting

This article describes how to enable and disable two-factor authentication (2FA) for a Professional or Pro Plus Email account. By enabling two-factor authentication, you provide an extra layer of security for your account.

When two-factor authentication is enabled, you cannot access your account using third-party clients (such as Gmail, Outlook, or Thunderbird). You must use the webmail client.

About two-factor authentication

By default, when you log in to your Professional or Pro Plus Email account, you type a username and password to access it.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) provides an extra layer of security, because in addition to knowing the correct username and password, you must provide another piece of information. In this case, the piece of information is a numeric password generated on one of your mobile devices, such as a smartphone or tablet.

This means that for a potential attacker to access your account, he or she would not only need to have something you know (your username and password), but also something you have (your mobile device). This two-factor approach to logins can significantly enhance your account's security.

Enabling two-factor authentication for your account

There are two things you must do to use two-factor authentication with your Professional or Pro Plus Email account.

First, you must install an authenticator app on your smartphone or tablet:

Second, you must enable two-factor authentication for the account in webmail. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your webmail account at https://a2hosting.titan.email.
  2. Click the Settings (gear) icon, and then click Preferences:

    Webmail - Settings - Preferences

  3. In the left sidebar, click Security (2FA):

    Webmail - Preferences - Security (2FA)

  4. Click Set up now.
  5. In the Verify your identity to set up Two-Factor Authentication section, type your password, and then click Verify.
  6. Click I have an authenticator app:

    Webmail - Preferences - Security (2FA) - I have an authenticator app

  7. Webmail generates a one-time password embedded in a QR code image. Use the authenticator app on your mobile device to scan the QR code image. After your device scans the QR code, it generates a one-time numeric password.

    Alternatively, you can manually enter the setup key to generate the one-time numeric password.
  8. Click Next:

    Webmail - Preferences - Security (2FA) - QR code

  9. Type the six-digit authentication code that you see in the app, and then click Verify:

    Webmail - Preferences - Security (2FA) - Verification code

  10. The Setup Complete message appears with several recovery codes.

    Make sure you store the backup codes in a safe place. You must have one of these codes if you ever lose your mobile device or if it is inaccessible for some reason. Otherwise, you will not be able to access your account.

    Webmail - Preferences - Security (2FA) - Setup Complete - Recovery Codes

  11. Click Done. The next time you log in to webmail, you must have your mobile device to obtain the numeric password (this is the second factor of “two-factor authentication”). If you do not have your mobile device or if it is inaccessible for some reason, use one of your backup codes to access your account.

Disabling two-factor authentication for your account

If you decide that you no longer want to use two-factor authentication with your Professional or Pro Plus Email account, you can disable it. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your webmail account at https://a2hosting.titan.email.
  2. Click the Settings (gear) icon, and then click Preferences:

    Webmail - Settings - Preferences

  3. In the left sidebar, click Security (2FA), and then click Manage:

    Webmail - Preferences - Security (2FA) - Manage

  4. In the Verify your identity to set up Two-Factor Authentication section, type your password, and then click Verify.
  5. Click Disable:

    Webmail - Preferences - Security (2FA) - Manage - Disable

    Alternatively, you can click Change to generate a new setup key for two-factor authentication. To generate a new set of recovery codes, click Regenerate.
  6. Click Yes, Disable to confirm:

    Webmail - Preferences - Security (2FA) - Manage - Disable - Confirm

    Two-factor authentication is now disabled for the account.

More Information

For more information about how to use two-factor authentication with Professional and Pro Plus Email accounts, please see the following Titan documentation:

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Article Details

  • Product: Email Hosting

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