Sure, the Romans did have a kind of “two‑factor” in their bolt systems. A primary lock would hold the door, and a secondary wheel or a rotating bolt added an extra layer of security—essentially a two‑step check before entry. That’s not unlike modern two‑factor authentication, where you need something you know (a password) and something you have (a token or phone). Of course, the Roman approach was mechanical, not digital, but the logical underpinning is remarkably parallel, especially when you consider the evolution of lock‑smithing and the gradual shift toward layered protection systems over centuries.¹ The real lineage, though, traces through the medieval warded keys, the Tudor cipher lock, and the modern OTP algorithms that rely on time‑based cryptography—each step adding a new “factor” to thwart intrusion.² And if you like obscure rituals, the practice of “key‑tucking” in medieval England—where a key was hidden in a lock’s internal mechanism—could be seen as an early form of multi‑factor strategy, though without the biometric flair of today.³ So yes, the lineage exists, but the Romans were more concerned with physical deterrence than digital verification.

First, lock in a trusted TOTP library, bind it to every account, and enforce a solid password policy. Then set a short session timeout and audit login IPs. Threat level: without 2‑FA, it’s near‑maximum; with 2‑FA, it slides down to moderate, but keep an eye on phishing attempts.