My brain finally grasps 2FA security after watching this adorable parrot

I spend a lot of time talking about two-factor authentication. Often I wonder if people have a real sense of its usefulness. Yeah, it helps keep hackers out of your accounts if your password somehow becomes compromised, but its usefulness as a security feature can be pretty abstract.

So, instead of talking up 2FA, today I’ll let this cute parrot just show you instead:

^{Original video on Instagram}

Your password is that first food cover. Two-factor authentication is the second. With just one cover, your meal gets eaten by the parrot. With two, your food is still yours to enjoy.

Setting up two-factor authentication can be as easy as dropping that second cover over the dish, by the way. You can use something you already own—your phone or tablet—to set up at least one 2FA method. I recommend using a dedicated app like Bitwarden Authenticator or Authy as the best balance between security and convenience.

That said, with a bird that cute, I’d probably share my food. But it would be my choice rather than the parakeet stealing it.

(Thanks to Instagram user sk_olgapl for sharing Edek’s hijinks!)

Author: Alaina Yee, Senior Editor, PCWorld