Tesla has started to implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) into owner accounts online.
When you log into your Tesla account, when you click on Account and scroll down below the Password section, Multi-factor Authentication is now showing. The option reads, “add an additional layer of security to your account.”
When you tap Manage, you’re forwarded to mfa.tesla.com, which as of writing, has not gone live yet.
However, @techAU was able to see mfa.tesla.com live, which explained instructions for setting up MFA.
“Setting up multi-factor authentication is easy. Before you get started, install an authenticator app to your mobile device (You can download any third-party authenticator you prefer),” explains Tesla’s instructions.
Image via @techAU
How does MFA work? It adds an extra layer of security to your account by requiring a second set of credentials to log in, instead of just your password. Tesla’s instructions tell owners to sign in with their email address and password, then enter the passcode sent to their device via the authenticator app.
You can use any authenticator app but password managers such as 1Password have an authenticator app built right into logins.
Sorry, this is embarrassingly late. Two factor authentication via sms or authenticator app is going through final validation right now.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 14, 2020
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has long promised two-factor authentication for owner accounts. Back in August, he said in response to a 2FA query, “Sorry, this is embarrassingly late. Two-factor authentication via sms or authenticator app is going through final validation right now.”
With two-factor authentication, you’ll require your account password and a constantly changing 6-digit passcode from an authenticator app, when logging in. It means if someone obtains your Tesla account password, they won’t be able to login unless they have access to your second factor for authentication, which in this case is a passcode from an authenticator app.
The addition of multi-factor authentication being added to Tesla owner accounts was spotted by user @TeslaStraya on late Monday evening. Two-factor authentication has essentially become a must in today’s day and age, given how many hacks there are of personal information online.
Update Oct. 6, 2020: Looks like MFA is now live. Here is Tesla’s support document on how to set it up.
