Two factor authentication has become crucial to prevent online fraud. One of the most convenient and cost-effective authentication factors in this system is the telephone. Users receive a one-time PIN code on their phone. They can receive this PIN code via a text message or an interactive voice call depending on their personal preference and phone type.

1. Voice vs.SMS Authentication
Times are changing. For instance, we no longer see people standing in line at the bank to make a
transaction, they now go online as it is more convenient.
From buying air tickets to making hotel reservations, nowadays everything can now be done virtually
without having to leave home.
But as technology evolves and becomes more sophisticated, so have attacks on cyber security. These
attacks are no longer performed by simple individuals. They have becomepart of a complex and
organized network – more intelligent, more persistent, and more ingenious.
Needless to say, a lot is at stake for the entire online business community. For a lot of online merchants,
fraud prevention has become the key to their survival. Two factor authentication is one of the effective
methods to stop fraud, check losses and increase customer satisfaction.
What is Two Factor Authentication?
As opposed to single factor authentication, which uses only one form of ID to verify a user, two factor
authenticationor 2FArequires the presence of two authentication factors. Typically, these factors are:
1. Something the user knows
2. Something the user has
The 2FA system, therefore, adds another layer of security beyond username and password. But why do
we need a second layer of security? Well, like we mentioned earlier, cyber criminals have become more
refined than ever. Cracking password is no longer difficult for their lot.
Password cracking methods like keystroke logging, brute force attack, dictionary attack, etc. are
commonly and routinely used to gain unauthorized access to accounts. Net result: an online environment
that relies solely on username-password authentication system is not secure anymore.
Phone Verification
The most convenient and cost-effective authentication device used in the 2FA system is thetelephone.
The system converts the user’s phone in to an authentication device through the use of text messaging or
interactive voice calls.
When it comes to phone verification, it is important to give user’s a choice between an SMS or voice-
based authentication for better customer satisfaction. While there’s reason to believe that most
authentication applications focus on SMS-enabled mobile phones, we should not forget that some people
may actually prefer voice-based authentication.
In fact, 53% of adult cell phone owners questionedin a survey conducted by the Pew Internet and
American Life Project on Americans and Text Messaging said they preferred receiving a voice call to a
text message*.
But how exactly are SMS and voice authentication different from each other? Well, the truth is that they’re
not handled all that differently. Both work on essentially the same principle – in order to authenticate a
user, a temporary PIN is sent to the phone owner.
The difference lies in the way the user chooses to receive this information. For those who have an SMS-
enabled phone and prefer that mode of communication, the PIN is sent via a text message. Individuals

2. who prefer voice calls to text messages or have phones that don’t support SMS messaging receive the
PIN through an interactive telephone call.
So, if you are a business looking for a reliable phone verification system, look for options that provide
both voice and SMS-enabled authentication solutions. After all, it’s the question of winning over your
customers by providing them impenetrable security and excellent user experience.
Sources:
*pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Cell-Phone-Texting-2011.aspx