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Why are two passwords not two-factor authentication?

A password followed by another password asks for the same kind of proof twice. Two-factor authentication combines different kinds, such as something you know and something you possess, rather than simply adding another screen to the login.

3–5 min

Questions you could explore

  • What makes two pieces of evidence different factors?
  • Why does using two factors still leave security questions to ask?

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Computers and AI

Why can a damaged QR code still work?

A scratch or stain does not always stop a QR code from being read. Its stored information includes redundancy, but that does not mean any part of the image can be covered without consequence.

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You remember a website by its name, while the network needs an address for the connection. DNS supplies that translation, sometimes from a saved answer and sometimes by asking other servers.

4–5 min
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Same emoji, different picture

The same emoji can arrive with a different expression or style from the one you saw when sending it. Unicode identifies characters and sequences, while software platforms choose artwork and decide what their versions support.

2–3 min
Why are two passwords not two-factor authentication? | Speech Topic | speaking.app