For years, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) has been one of the most effective defenses against account compromise. And to be clear: MFA is still essential.
But the threat landscape has evolved — and some of the most commonly used MFA methods haven’t kept up.
The familiar four- or six-digit codes sent via text message are convenient and widely adopted. They’re certainly better than passwords alone. Unfortunately, “better than nothing” is no longer good enough for organizations protecting sensitive data, regulated environments, or critical systems.
Today’s attackers understand SMS-based MFA inside and out — and they know exactly how to bypass it.
SMS was never designed to be a secure authentication channel. It relies on legacy cellular infrastructure that contains known vulnerabilities — particularly within the SS7 (Signaling System No. 7) protocol used by telecom providers to route calls and messages.
Attackers can exploit these weaknesses to:
Even worse, SMS MFA is highly susceptible to phishing. If a user unknowingly enters their username, password, and SMS code into a fake login page, attackers can capture all three in real time and immediately access the legitimate account.
One of the most damaging threats tied to SMS-based MFA is SIM swapping.
In a SIM swap attack, a criminal impersonates a user and convinces a mobile carrier to transfer their phone number to a new SIM card. Once successful:
This attack doesn’t require advanced technical skills — it relies on social engineering and weaknesses in carrier support processes. The result? Full account takeover, often within minutes.
To defend against modern attacks, organizations must remove the human element from authentication as much as possible.
Phishing-resistant MFA uses cryptographic authentication tied to specific domains and devices, making it impossible for credentials to be reused elsewhere — even if a user is tricked into clicking a malicious link.
One of the leading standards enabling this is FIDO2.
FIDO2 uses public-key cryptography to create passkeys that are:
If the domain doesn’t match, authentication simply doesn’t happen. No codes. Nothing to steal.
Hardware security keys are among the most secure MFA options available today.
These small physical devices — often USB or NFC-based — perform cryptographic verification when plugged in or tapped against a device. There are:
Unless someone physically steals the key, account access is impossible.
For administrators, executives, and privileged users, hardware keys should be non-negotiable.
If hardware keys aren’t feasible for every user, modern authenticator apps are a major step up from SMS.
Apps like Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator:
That said, simple push approvals can still be abused through MFA fatigue attacks, where users are bombarded with login prompts.
The solution? Number matching.
Users must confirm a number displayed on their login screen — proving they are physically present and initiating the login themselves.
Passwords are routinely compromised. Passkeys are the answer.
Passkeys are:
They combine the security of hardware keys with the convenience of devices users already carry — and can be securely synced across trusted ecosystems like iCloud Keychain or Google Password Manager.
For IT teams, passkeys dramatically reduce:
Better security. Better user experience.
Moving away from SMS-based MFA requires change — and change often meets resistance.
The key is education. When users understand:
Adoption becomes far easier.
A phased rollout works well for general users, but privileged accounts should never rely on SMS MFA. Administrators and executives are high-value targets — and must be protected accordingly.
Legacy MFA creates a false sense of security. It may satisfy compliance checkboxes, but it leaves organizations exposed to breaches that are:
Upgrading authentication is one of the highest ROI investments in cybersecurity. The cost of hardware keys or modern identity platforms is negligible compared to incident response, downtime, and data recovery.
At AllSector Technology, we specialize in deploying modern, phishing-resistant identity solutions that protect your organization without frustrating your users.
If you’re ready to:
Let’s talk. We’ll help you design and implement an authentication approach that’s secure, scalable, and user-friendly.
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AllSector Technology
Info@AllSector.com
866.783.6648