Amazon certainly picked a good time to offer stronger protection for your account.

In the midst of the online retail company's "Countdown to Black Friday Deals Week," Amazon is now offering two-step verification, requiring both a password and verification code delivered to your smartphone. Aimed at adding an extra level of authenticity, Amazon has enabled the option via its user account settings.

Although the company hasn't formally announced the option, The Verge and other outlets have spotted it, even giving customers step-by-step instructions on how to enable the extra layer of security to ensure they're shopping safely for the holidays and beyond.

According to CNET, Amazon users will be happy to know that the two-step authenticity option can also be customized to customers' preferences on how they want to receive verification codes.

After clicking the "Your Account" page and selecting the link for "Change Account Settings," you'll choose "Edit for Advanced Security Settings." From there, you'll be prompted with a "Get Started" button, explaining how the two-step verification works.

The very next page will give you two options for how you'll receive codes — either via text message on your smartphone or by downloading an Amazon authenticator app for occasions when you don't have any mobile service. CNET claims the first option is simpler as of now. In addition to a text message, though, the verification code can also be transmitted to your smartphone via voice.

Whatever your preference, it's great that Amazon is offering this option, as it should go long way in allowing users to shop with peace of mind and even for the online retail company to possibly attract new customers just in time for the holidays. Sounds like a win-win situation.