The Nintendo Network on your Switch console or 3DS handheld now has a brand new option for logging in. Nintendo has decided to take a hint from Valve as far as account security is concerned. This means there’s now the option for a two-factor authentication for your account.
While the feature is can be implemented, it’s not automatically active. If you’d like two-factor authentication on your account, you’ll have to go to the Nintendo Network portal. Once you’ve logged into your account, you should head to the sign-in and security settings tab. This will allow you to see the option to activate two-step verification at the bottom.
Now what exactly is two-factor authentication, for those that are unfamiliar? It uses a mobile device to make sure that any log-in into your Nintendo Network account is actually you. This way, anyone trying to gain access to your account will have to have your cell phone as well, and what are the chances of that? Any Nintendo Network log-in will be run through Google Authenticator (on either Android or iOS phones) before you can access your account.
It’s an interesting move, since it can be an annoying process for those that aren’t familiar with it. Will you be using two-factor authentication for your Nintendo Network account?
Source: Polygon