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Two-Step Verification is a popular method to improve the security of accounts by adding another verification step to the authentication process.
It blocks attackers from accessing the account with the password alone, as they need the second code as well for that once Two-Step Verification is enabled.
Companies like Google, Twitter or PayPal use two-factor authentication already, and Amazon is the latest to introduce the feature for Amazon accounts.
The feature is being rolled out in the United States as we speak which means that you need to enable it on the US site to make use of it.
It will work with regional Amazon sites afterwards as well though.
Note: You may not need to perform the first step to enable Two-Step verification. Skip it and go directly to Step 2 below instead to give it a try.
Caution: There seems to be no option to create passwords for devices that don't support Two-Step authentication. It is unclear right now how those are handled and if they continue to work after enabling Two-Step Verification.
First thing you need to do is add a mobile phone number to your account. This is best done on the local Amazon site and not Amazon.com unless you are from the United States.
The reason for this is that users are reporting currently that verification SMS are not reaching their phones when they are using the main Amazon site. It works for some though but it is better to use a local site for that as you won't run into this issue.
Step 1: Adding a mobile phone number to your Amazon account
Step 2: Turning on Two-Step Verification
Now that you have added a phone number to your Amazon account, you may enable Two-Step Verification for the account as well.
Note: Codes are either sent to the device through SMS or generated directly on the device using a compatible authenticator application.
The process itself is similar to how authentication works on other online sites supporting Two-Step Verification:
Finally, click on the "got it. Turn on Two-Step Verification" button to enable the feature for your Amazon account.
Disable Two-Step Verification on Amazon
Disabling Two-Step Verification is a quick process.
Note: Once you have enabled Two-Step Verification on Amazon.com, options to manage the feature become available under Account Settings on regional Amazon sites as well.
Ghacks is a technology news blog that was founded in 2005 by Martin Brinkmann. It has since then become one of the most popular tech news sites on the Internet with five authors and regular contributions from freelance writers.
I managed to enter my phone number on my local Amazon page without a hitch, but when I go to amazon.com to enable two-step verification, I get stuck on step 2: “Add backup method”.
I won’t allow me to use the same phone number as I did in step 1, because it is already “setup to receive codes”.
So I basically have to either install their app (no thanks) or get a second phone number.
I never had this issue when enabling 2-step on Google or Dropbox.
Is there a workaround for this nonsense?
Hm, I did not run into the issue. In fact, the mobile phone number was already filled out so that I only had to hit the send code button.
I had the exact same problem, I have NO other phone than a cell phone, and it’s a Windows phone, so not likely to support any Amazon app.
No available to me on U.K. site. But turned it on , on the U.S. site. Only doing it to give me more reflection time before buying latest “heart’s desire”
No available to me on U.K. site. But turned it on , on the U.S. site. Only doing it to give me more reflection time before buying latest “heart’s desire” —————-Wed 18th Nov 2015,[email protected] 16 : 16 hrs
I wonder if two-factor auth breaks camelcamelcamel.com and Amazon TV Apps.
Amazon is failing to send me SMS msg. I’m in USA with Verizon.
So can’t test it.
Hope it does not break my Samsung TV App and Camel3.
Well my Google Voice number got the SMS within a second on first try, so who knows. Bad Verizon, bad!
But it won’t take my Verizon as backup. And it keeps saying Authy code is wrong, even though I setup correctly.
Bad Amazon! Clearly you did not test well enough, bad Amazon!!
Finally, got the codes. POS!
Anyways..
Camel3 is still working. :)
Amazon Instant Video on my TV is working and oh my it has been upgraded as well. New design completely. Sweet!
Don’t see anyone talking about it either. Samsung TV.
Only the main front page has changed. That is, TV Series and movie listing pages are the same. It’s just the “home page” has been completely redesigned.
Thanks for the info. I put Authy on my cell and added it on a pc as a chrome app. Then I started with Amazon. The barcode read part of the setup was a little awkward but I managed to figure it out. I have Authy set up with Amazon now with a backup sms to my cell phone. A simple test worked smoothly, much easier than the setup. I plan to put paypal and other accounts on 2 step. I’m pretty sure I can get it ‘family approved’.
Something weird going on with Amazon. Yesterday I tried to get an app from their app store for my Fire and it said they could not sell it to me because I was not in an approved Country. Wow, they are blocking the US, who would have thought it? I guess they know what they are doing.
Emailed CS and they told me to use a different CC (it’s an Amazon one) and then gave me a link to my music content. What?
I’m heading for jet.com and newegg.com in the future.
WARNING WARNING
In agreeing to give Amazon your mobile number, you are also giving them approval to send marketing information to your device (part of the fine print).
I discovered this when my attempt to add my number to my .ca account failed (not receiving the sms) and was talking to customer service. The lady asked me if I understood that by adding it, I also was agreeing to the receipt of amazon marketing to my phone. I informed her that it was because of the two-step verification process which she then informed me would not work on my .ca account (at the moment anyhow), and that the two came in a bundle – marketing and two-step; you don’t get one without the other.
Google Voice numbers work for this (both as the primary and the backup)–and as a bonus, can be used to filter out spam should Amazon start spamming the number(s).
DO NOT give out your phone number. You are exchanging privacy for the illusion of more security. It allows them to track your mobile device. When you go into retail stores they will identify your mobile and sell as much information about you as they can collect to third parties.
how to implement to my web site