Common MFA Mistakes -- and How to Fix Them
TechTarget (SearchSecurity), Thursday, July 9th, 2026
Seven common MFA mistakes, from incomplete coverage to weak methods, undermine authentication security.
Author Dave Shackleford identifies seven common MFA implementation mistakes. These include incomplete coverage where service accounts and legacy systems slip through, and reliance on weak SMS or email methods vulnerable to SIM swapping instead of phishing-resistant FIDO2 keys or passkeys.
Others are MFA fatigue exploitation (countered by number matching), neglecting authenticated session protection, and insufficient safeguards on privileged accounts.
He also warns against treating MFA as a one-time project and against underestimating AI-enhanced social engineering. The conclusion frames MFA as a foundational element of identity security, not a complete solution.