Washington Post: “…Beyond using good passwords from the get-go, using two-factor authentication — or 2FA — is one of the best ways to make sure your accounts don’t fall into the wrong hands. Think of it as an extra layer of security, one that forces you to prove your identity by sending a code to a device only the real deal would have access to. Frequently, that means our phones. And take it from me: Forgetting to set it up can be costly…Lots of companies and services try to verify your identity via codes sent to you in text messages or in phone calls. (In my experience, this is especially true of banks.) That means regaining control of your phone number is crucial. If you’ve lost track of your phone and are fairly sure you’re not getting it back anytime soon, your first step should be to contact your wireless carrier. Calling a customer service line is a good start, but if you can, we recommend going directly to a carrier store for more immediate help…If that lost device is a smartphone, there’s a quick way to prevent anyone from prying: Lock it down when you notice it’s missing. That will force whoever has your phone to punch in whatever PIN code or password you’ve already set up before they can access any of your data. Here’s how to do it…”