Eastern students say Eastern’s new Duo Security requirement for email, paws and D2l login is annoying and unnecessary. 

On Aug. 15, all registered students of Eastern received an email informing them of the duo security authenticator that students would have to sign up for when school started. In the email, it was also stated that Eastern’s faculty and staff have been using the duo security system for over a year.  

On Sept. 7, the duo security was available to students. This was an invitation for students to sign up and register their accounts. After Sept. 14, the duo security would automatically be required, and students would be forced to make an account. 

Students would be required to download the Duo Mobile app in order to set up an account so students can log in.   

Essentially, when students want to log into their email, paws or D2l account, they will encounter a screen asking them how they would like to authenticate that it is them logging in. 

The options that students have to confirm it is them are: 

• Push notifications through the Duo Mobile App. Students would have to press a confirm or deny that it is them accessing the account. 
• Receiving a phone call to the registered mobile device and inserting a code. 
• Entering a six-digit passcode, which is located on the Duo Mobile app. 

If a phone is not the best option for students, they are able to purchase a YubiKey from the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union that can allow people to log in.   

The extra layer of security has been somewhat of an inconvenience according to students. When they are logging into their accounts they are delayed by the dual confirmation system, potentially impacting limited time moments for students checking in and are on the go.

Jaden Woerner, a freshman majoring in psychology, had a negative opinion on it.  

“It’s kind of annoying when I try to sign onto the D2l, then I have to go onto my phone to prove it,” Woerner said.  

The purpose of the secondary security is to make it harder for people to hack into other people’s accounts. 

“I think it’ll help if somebody is trying to hack into your account or something if they might know the password, but other than that I think it’s just kind of annoying,” Woerner said.  

Miya Bills, a sophomore majoring in human services, also had a negative opinion on the extra security.   

“I think the Duo Security is pretty unnecessary,” Bills said. “Being that we already have a password to get into our own emails. So I feel as if we have to send in our homework, it’s extra work to have to bypass a security login.” 

Cam’ron Hardy can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].