How to Add Multi-Factor Authentication to Secure Your Tesla Account

One thing that security researchers have been trying to drive home for years now is the necessity of multi-factor authentication and its great utility as an added security feature. If you are a Tesla owner, you also have a Tesla account and, thankfully, you can finally have multi-factor enabled on it.

Your Tesla account allows you to do a number of things, including transfer vehicle ownership, monitor your car's energy levels and usage and check billings. The company added MFA functionality to their account infrastructure in the second half of 2020. Here are the steps you need to follow in order to enable Tesla's multi-factor authentication service on your mobile device:

1. If you don't already have some sort of authenticator app on your mobile device, install one.
2. Log into your Tesla account using your regular login credentials in the form of your e-mail and password.
3. Tap on "Account".
4. Tap "Multi-Factor Authentication" in the "Login Credentials" section, then tap "Manage".
5. Enter your account credentials in the provided form, then follow the onscreen instructions.
6. A prompt will appear, asking for the code generated by your authenticator app of choice.
7. Go back to the Tesla site and enter the code.
8. Once the process is complete, you will get an e-mail confirming the successful activation of MFA on your account.

Now that multi-factor authentication functionality has finally been added to Tesla user accounts, customers may rest easy. There are topics on the Tesla Motor Club forums dating back to early 2019, with users asking for MFA features. Finally, customers can enable the newly introduced feature and enjoy a greater level of security.

There are many ways in which bad actors can steal login credentials for any platform, whether this is done through phishing, brute-forcing passwords or hacking into databases. Multi-factor authentication that uses a unique mobile device is a very significant hurdle in the way of those common attack vectors, as it adds an un-skippable step that requires a remote, physical resource that the hackers don't have access to.

As with any account and any service, enabling MFA is highly recommended. Even if Tesla added this functionality a little late, it's good that they finally have it and offer their customers a greater level of comfort and security.