AlterEgo is an app created by the security conscious folks here at MailChimp to add multi-factor authentication to your MailChimp account, providing another layer of security.
Bonus: get an automatic 2% discount just for connecting your MailChimp account with AlterEgo. It's our way of rewarding you for being vigilant about security. Other app developers can also integrate with AlterEgo to quickly add multi-factor authentication to their apps, too.
How AlterEgo Works
AlterEgo generates one-time use, temporary auth codes that have to be entered in addition to your account password. Even if the password is compromised, AlterEgo blocks account access unless the user has the temporary auth code. This extra security can help you thwart phishing attacks and breaches caused by insecure passwords by creating extra work for any attacker who wants to break into your account.
Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication adds a second, independent system that must be breached before an attacker can get into your account. So let's say that that your computer is hacked (horrible!). If you have two-factor authentication, the hacker would also need access to that independent system, such as a cell phone. The best thing about multi-factor authentication is that each separate system has different designs and different vulnerabilities, make the whole system harder to get into.
Technically, AlterEgo isn't quite two-factor authentication, because your AlterEgo account can be accessed from a computer web browser, an app on your smartphone (available for Android and iOS), or a web browser on a smart phone. So you could technically access the account from the same computer that you use to access MailChimp. We recommend you access AlterEgo from a completely separate device, such as your cell phone and ensure that you use completely different credentials for AlterEgo and MailChimp to increase security.
Connect Your MailChimp Account to AlterEgo
Convinced to use AlterEgo? Here's how to link it to your MailChimp account:
- Sign up for an AlterEgo account or log in to an existing AlterEgo account.
- New accounts will get a confirmation email. Click Activate Your Account in the confirmation email.
- Once your AlterEgo account is activated, log in to your MailChimp account.
- Go to Account > Integrations and authorize the connection for AlterEgo.
- When you log in to MailChimp going forward, you'll be prompted to enter an AlterEgo authentication code. You can generate a code by logging in to your AlterEgo account using our smartphone apps, or in a web browser on your phone or computer. For the most security, use a cell phone/mobile device, or at least a separate computer than the one used to access MailChimp.
Once you've set up your AlterEgo account, you can connect it to multiple MailChimp accounts.