This is by far the easiest way to never lose access to your account.
| Read also: Mobile Authentication Pros and Cons 2. Google Authenticator backup codes have their perks, but you have to be ready for the drawbacks as well.
But what do you do with the websites which do not support backup codes?Īnother point against Google Authenticator backup codes is – they are as secure as a password written down on a paper. Some of these websites provide backup codes, and a user can gain access to these websites if his/her smartphone is lost. It is imperative to understand that Google Authenticator is a multi-token, thus you can enroll many tokens for various websites using one app.
Operating principle is pretty much the same for all the software OTP tokens – they generate authentication codes for logging into your account right on your smartphone. – Newton Lee, Counterterrorism and Cybersecurity: Total Information Awarenessįrom all available options of one-time passwords generation or delivery (SMS, emails, hardware and software tokens) most people choose Google Authenticator or other similar applications like Authy, Protectimus Smart etc. “As the world is increasingly interconnected, everyone shares the responsibility of securing cyberspace.”
So why two-factor verification is still unpopular? Sure, it creates an extra step to take to log in, but most users omit it not because of this extra time and effort, but because they are afraid of losing access to their credentials if something goes wrong with their authentication devices. It also complicates man-in-the-middle and man-in-the-browser attacks. Thus, two-factor authentication protects from brute force, keyloggers, most cases of phishing and social engineering. If you use two-factor verification, an intruder would need to get both the unique password you came up with, and the gadget, which produces the verification codes, to break into your account. In the contemporary world, where database leaks are a standing affair, two-step authentication is not an option, it is, in fact, a must. I’ll make use of capitalism and find a better mouse trap.Our regular readers know that we strongly recommend applying two-step verification wherever it’s possible.
Imagine if GM made you ask other car owners how to use the windshield wipers, or how to change a tire. I can definitely do without you at least Microsoft has support for the products they make. I’ll be uninstalling many Google apps in the coming month. Don’t even bother to ask for help because all you will receive is arrogant script kiddies belittling you for something you didn’t even know you were supposed to do. If you use the Microsoft Authenticator, at least it will remember your information while you are on the same phone platform. And if you lose your phone, you are just screwed with no recourse. If you change phones or migrate phone platforms, you are completely screwed unless you remove mfa from all your apps before you uninstall the Google Authenticator app. I would give ANYTHING to be able to retrieve the memories and photos I have lost forever. Please just don’t get this app unless you absolutely NEED the extra security. So I’m logged out of my bank app and pharmacy app as well.
I had to make all new social media accounts and I still can’t get logged back into some apps because I have a new phone number as well. I’ve also lost access to ALL of my apps and accounts as well. I just thought it was a neat feature I guess. I don’t even remember why I got it because I didn’t need the extra security. Unless you’re some sort of high level security person you don’t need this app, DO NOT get it. I lost all of my daughters newborn photos, my wedding photos and countless other memories I will never be able to retrieve. In turn I lost access to my google photos account that had over 18,000 photos backed up to it. I didn’t even get a new phone so there’s no “new phone” to get the codes from. I lost access to my google account I’ve had my entire life after I got a new phone number and had to get a new iCloud account.