Boots has announced a major change to the way it does online shopping and it will affect every customer. The beauty and pharmaceuticals giant has introduced extra security measures saying it wants to ensure people's personal information is kept safe.
From today people shopping at Boots can set up two-factor authentication but it will soon be compulsory. This means before anyone can shop they will have to use two separate forms of identification rather than just their email/username and password.
In an email to customers it said: "To ensure that your personal details are kept safe, we are adding an extra layer of security to your boots.com account. This is known as Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). You have probably set up something similar on other websites you have visited. In a couple of weeks you will be required to set this up, but you can switch this extra layer of security on now."
Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, adds a layer of security to signing in to websites and services. The most common way this happens is when you log in from a new phone, tablet or computer, or from a new location that the website doesn’t recognise, it will send you a code via SMS to your mobile phone that you have to enter before you can finish signing in.
According to Which? you should turn this on for every service you log in to, whether it's via an app or a website. It says: "Not every service offers it, but where it's available, turn it on.
"This is a great way of protecting your accounts, as it stops hackers who might have got your password via a data breach or phishing scam from logging in. "
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea