Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

What Is Multifactor Authentication (MFA)?

Multifactor Authentication, or MFA, is an authentication method that requires users to verify their identity using two or more independent factors. These factors typically include something the user knows, something the user has, or something the user is.

MFA is designed to reduce the risk of unauthorized access when a password alone has been compromised by requiring additional proof during login.

How does Multifactor Authentication work?

MFA increases assurance during authentication by requiring multiple verification steps:

• The user submits a primary credential, such as a username and password

• One or more additional factors are requested, such as a one-time code, push approval, hardware token, or biometric signal

• Access is granted only if all required factors are successfully validated

This approach ensures that possession of a password by itself is not sufficient to authenticate.

Where MFA Helps

MFA is effective at reducing risk in scenarios where attackers rely solely on static credentials, including:

• Password reuse across services

• Automated login attempts using leaked credentials

• Unauthorized access caused by single-factor compromise

By increasing the number of required proofs, MFA raises the effort required for these attacks to succeed.

Where MFA Has Design Limitations

MFA is not designed to address every attack scenario. In particular, it does not inherently prevent:

• Credential capture on impersonated or cloned websites

• Real-time relay of credentials or authentication tokens through Man-in-the-Middle techniques

• Session takeover scenarios that occur after authentication

• Situations where users are deceived into approving authentication requests

In these cases, authentication factors can be intercepted or replayed as part of a broader attack flow without being bypassed directly.

How Memcyco Complements MFA

Memcyco’s complements MFA by protecting the authentication interaction itself, and related events leading up to it. Rather than validating identity factors alone, Memcyco focuses on detecting impersonation-driven access attempts and credential capture activity as the attack unfolds. This prevents attackers from converting intercepted credentials or authentication tokens into successful account takeover.

How it works:

• Detects authentication-stage indicators associated with impersonation and credential capture

• Identifies targeted users and high-risk devices in real time

• Applies advanced deception to neutralize harvested credentials before reuse

• Blocks suspicious devices attempting credential replay on the genuine site

• Interrupts attacker progression before authentication succeeds

Related reading

• MFA Isn’t Enough: How Attackers Bypass Authentication and What Actually Stops Account Takeovers

• How to Evaluate Proactive Cybersecurity Tools That Stop Scams Before They Cause Damage

• How to Detect & Stop Reverse Proxy Phishing Attacks in Real-Time