Two-factor authentication typically combines which elements?

• A. Something you know and something you have
• B. Password alone
• C. Username alone
• D. Encryption of data

Answer: (A)

Two-factor authentication uses two different types of credentials to prove identity: something you know and something you have. The something you know is typically a password or PIN, while the something you have is a physical item or device you possess, such as a code generated by an authenticator app, a hardware security key, or a text-message code. Having both factors means an attacker would need both your password and access to the second factor, making unauthorized access much harder. Relying on a password alone is only one factor, a username alone isn’t an authentication factor, and encryption of data is a protective measure rather than a way to verify who you are.