As you well know, hackers abound online. This brings us to an important question: Is your website secure for you and your client to discuss sensitive information online? Unfortunately, as a website owner, you have to be very sure about who is visiting your website, and that the user is “authenticated” (allowed) to access your website information. To ensure that your website is secure, you will need to an encryption system that is referred to as “PHP Multi-Factor Authentication”.
What is PHP?
PHP, “Personal Home Page,” is a general-purpose code used for web development and runs on an internet company’s web server. It is more commonly known today as ASP, Microsoft’s “Active Server Pages.” This code, which is a scripting language, is used for creating dynamic web pages, those pages that have changing content.
There are three factors, levels or classifications of “Factors for Authentication.” They are as follows:
- What do you know? Some sites require a password and/or username that allows a user access to your site’s information
- What do you have? This is generally associated with the possession of either an authentication certificate from the authorities or a one-time password which can be used as a proof to provide users an access to encrypted data.
- Who are you? This is the identity of the user.
The Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) works compiling these three or two of them at a time to provide layers of security through PHP developments. Some programmers also use location as an authentication factor. According to Jade Gardner, a U.K. marketing manager, the location factor “…used to prevent the use of knowledge, possession or identity at the places where one is not actually present; hence, preventing fraud. For example, the IP address is a tool to verify that a request is coming from the location of the user and hence, the user itself.”
The use of PHP is not as complicated as it sounds for users. For example, when the website opens, the script opens a dialog box for users to enter their ID and/or password. These, because of the PHP code, are encrypted and thus, make the sessions safe and secure.
In today’s sophisticated online world, there are many technologies available that provide excellent layers of security for the website owner and the user. All are based on the three authentication factors listed above.
Even though this article is a bit technical, it touches on a subject that you need to at least be aware of; mainly understand that adding PHP or other authentication codes to your website is a way to safeguard access to your data and serves to assure your clients that they are free to communicate with you online.
If you need assistance preparing a safe and secure website, give us a call at Group Matrix. Our website programmers can ensure that your website’s data and communications remain secure.
Group Matrix Blog – June 27, 2018 – by Sharon Bowles
