Three-quarters of internet users choose two-step verification

© ANP / Richard Brocken
The share of internet users who know how two-step verification works was 70 percent in 2024, compared to 64 percent in 2022. Approximately 27 percent used this login method for all accounts where possible, compared to 25 percent in 2022. Around 50 percent only used it for some accounts. Older people were the least familiar with two-step verification and also use it the least often. This is according to the survey on Online Safety and Crime among individuals aged 15 years and over, conducted by Statistics Netherlands (CBS).

Familiar with two-step verification and its use
Tweetrapsverificatie2024 (% of internet users aged 15 and over)2022 (% of internet users aged 15 and over)
Are familiar with it
Know how it works69.964.0
Have heard of it,
but don't know
how it works.
10.714.0
Have never heard of it19.422.0
Use
Yes, for all accounts26.724.9
Yes, for some
accounts
49.347.6
No24.027.5

One-third of people aged over 65 are not familiar with two-step verification

34 percent of internet users aged 65 and over said they had never heard of two-step verification (2SV), compared to 10 percent of users aged 25 to 44. The latter group is the most familiar with this login method: 83 percent have heard about it, compared to 48 percent of users aged 65 and over.

Familiar with two-step verification, 2024
LeeftijdKnow how it works (% of internet users)Have heard of it, but
don't know how it works (% of internet users)
Have never heard of it (% of internet users)
15-24 yrs66.610.622.8
25-44 yrs83.16.510.5
45-64 yrs75.09.415.6
65 yrs and over48.018.133.9

Use is lowest among older people

People aged 65 and older were the least likely to use two-step verification, at 42 percent. Internet users aged 25 to 44, on the other hand, were the most likely to use it for all accounts for which it was available (32 percent). Among people aged 65 and over, this was 18 percent.

Use of two-step verification, 2024
LeeftijdYes, for all accounts (% of internet users)Yes, for some accounts (% of internet users)No (% of internet users)
15-24 yrs27.352.620.1
25-44 yrs32.554.113.4
45-64 yrs27.250.222.6
65 yrs and over17.939.942.2

People aged 25 to 44 are the least likely to set up two-step verification

Around 33 percent of internet users aged 25 to 44 who do not use two-step verification said they do not want to or that they find it too time-consuming. People aged 65 and over were more likely than average to find this login method too difficult (29 percent) or never to have heard of it (40 percent).

Reasons for not using two-step verification, 2024¹⁾
LeeftijdNever heard of it,
dont know how it works (% of internet users²⁾)
Find it too difficult,
don't know how to use it (% of internet users²⁾)
Find it unnecessary (% of internet users²⁾)Not interested,
it takes too much time (% of internet users²⁾)
Total
(15 yrs and over)
30.224.720.917.1
15-24 yrs27.515.329.624.6
25-44 yrs16.619.624.433.4
45-64 yrs25.225.721.317.9
65 yrs and over40.128.816.77.4
¹⁾ Multiple answers possible. ²⁾ Who do not use two-step verification.

Women are more likely to find two-step verification difficult to use

Men were more likely than women to use two-step verification for all accounts that allow it: 30 percent compared to 24 percent in 2024. When women do not use two-step verification, they are more likely than men to say they find it too difficult or do not know how to use it. Men who do not use it are more likely to find it unnecessary.

People with higher professional (HBO) or university education were more likely than average to say they use two-step verification for all accounts where possible. People with primary or prevocational secondary education (VMBO) were more likely to say they had never heard of two-step verification.