Beginning May 8, 2023, Microsoft will require Number Matching, an upgraded security feature for all organizations using Microsoft Authenticator.
The extra step of number matching helps ensure that the person requesting access into an account is the same person approving the sign in on a device. Without number matching, a malicious user who has obtained your username and password could attempt to log in, sending a prompt to you to approve the sign in request. If you inadvertently approve the request, the malicious user will gain access to your account.
Once number matching takes effect, as Microsoft indicates, this change will be enabled for all Microsoft Authenticator push notifications. Please follow the instructions below for accessing your @alum.villanova.edu email account using the Microsoft Authenticator application:
1. Enter your credentials for logging into Villanova University's email service at https://outlook.villanova.edu
2. After you enter your credentials, an “Approve sign in request” window will appear in your browser with instructions to open your Authenticator application and enter a number that you will be presented with in the Microsoft Authenticator application
3. Open the Microsoft Authenticator application, enter in the number and select “Yes” to finish verifying your identity. After verifying your identify by entering in the number, you should automatically get logged into your email.
