two-factor_authentication
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two-factor_authentication [2019/08/21 06:37] β neil | two-factor_authentication [2021/07/06 09:26] β external edit 127.0.0.1 | ||
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====Key points ==== | ====Key points ==== | ||
* [[two-factor_authentication#" | * [[two-factor_authentication#" | ||
+ | * [[two-factor_authentication# | ||
+ | * [[two-factor_authentication# | ||
+ | * [[two-factor_authentication# | ||
====" | ====" | ||
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Because of the security benefits of having two-factor authentication in place, you should enable it wherever you can. This normally means "on every site and service which supports it". | Because of the security benefits of having two-factor authentication in place, you should enable it wherever you can. This normally means "on every site and service which supports it". | ||
+ | |||
+ | Check first that you can use whatever two-factor approach you are using on whatever devices you tend to use. If you primarily use your phone, and the service requires a hardware device which is incompatible with your phone, you'll be causing yourself a lot of inconvenience, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Some password managers will suggest logins for which two-factor authentication is available. There' | ||
====Have a back-up mechanism in case you lose your device(s)==== | ====Have a back-up mechanism in case you lose your device(s)==== | ||
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These one-time codes are usually generated by a piece of software on your computer or phone, or else through a dedicated hardware device. | These one-time codes are usually generated by a piece of software on your computer or phone, or else through a dedicated hardware device. | ||
- | Backup | + | ===Time-based One-Time Passwords (TOTP) are common and easy to use===Β |
+ | Β | ||
+ | Lots of sites support one-time | ||
+ | Β | ||
+ | Once set up, you need to log in using your username and password, and then put in the current code before it expires. This means that you always need to have the mechanism to generate the code to hand, when you want to log in.Β | ||
+ | Β | ||
+ | These work by generating a special code, which you store on a device, and which the service stores. So, to use TOTP, you need a means of storing this special code. (You may not even see the special code; you may just need to scan a QR code, which automates the storage, so that you see only the effect of it, which is the generation of six-digit one-time passwords, which change routinely).Β | ||
+ | Β | ||
+ | You might be able to use [[passwords# | ||
- | Two hardware devices, so you can store a backup safely in safe. | + | Alternatively, you can use a dedicated app, such as " |
+ | You might also use a hardware device. | ||
+ | ===Avoid text message for delivery of codes === | ||
+ | Some services offer the real-time delivery of one-time codes using text message. If possible, avoid this, in favour of an approach which doesn' | ||
- | Option of 2FA β so if you do make a mistake and give away your username and password, still hard for someone | + | First, text messages are not secure, and a sufficiently motivated attacker is likely |
- | Downside of 2FA is that, if you lose your device, you may well be locked out of your accounts. | + | Second, if someone manages to hijack |
- | If the second code is delivered over SMS, you can probably get a new SIM, get your provider to move your number across to the new SIM, and you are up and running. | + | Third, if you are out of signal, you cannot |
- | If you use an app β which means you are not reliant on getting an SMS β you may struggle more. I donβt have a great solution for this at the moment. | ||
====Hardware security tokens ==== | ====Hardware security tokens ==== | ||
{{:: | {{:: | ||
Yubikeys | Yubikeys |
two-factor_authentication.txt Β· Last modified: 2022/09/08 09:09 by neil