Tesla finally launches two-factor authentication

After a long string of delays, Tesla has finally implemented a crucial security feature for its app: two-factor authentication. 

CEO Elon Musk said in April that the feature was coming “soon,” and on Wednesday, Electrek reported that it’s now available for Tesla owners. To enable it — which is highly recommended — go to your Tesla account and activate the “Multi-factor Authentication” feature, and set up a third-party authenticator app of your choice. 

A couple of options are on offer; you can set up the option with a mobile device, a desktop QR code, or a security key. As always, be careful not to lose access to your authenticator, as you won’t be able to log into your Tesla account without it. 

In August, Musk said the feature is “embarrassingly late,” and added that the feature was going through final validation. 

Two-factor authentication protects Tesla accounts with an additional piece of info aside from your password, such as an authenticator code, an SMS code, or a face scan. Should someone get a hold of your Tesla account password, they wouldn’t be able to log in without this additional piece of information. And since passwords these days are often hacked and sold on the dark web en masse, it’s not prudent to rely solely on a password for security, no matter how strong it is. 

As an aside, asking Tesla for more details about this new feature probably wouldn’t yield results, as the company reportedly recently dissolved its PR department. We guess it now all boils down to Musk answering queries on Twitter, which — as unconventional as it is — sometimes actually works.