The Authenticator App Mac Security Blog

This extension is NOT a Google official product, so it cannot sync with your Google Authenticator data on your Android phone, iPhone or tablet.

Your data will be auto sync with Google Account if you have logged in.

To guys who want this extension buyout: this extension has a very strict content security policy, it is impossible to insert any ADs into the extension to make money, so please DO NOT write emails to me any more.

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The Authenticator App Mac Security Blog

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When you set up 2FA, most services send you a code by SMS by default, but many services also allow you to use a 2FA app, which you can run on your Mac, your iOS device, or even your Apple Watch.

In this article, Im going to explain why you should use an app like this, and Im going to discuss three such iOS apps: Google Authenticator, Authy, and 1Password.

It combines something you know: your user name and password, with something you have: a code that is sent to you by the service, or generated by an app.

Since data breaches are so common, and, lets admit it, many people re-use passwords because good passwords are difficult to remember, the something you know may also be in the hands of miscreants.

However, when codes are sent via SMS, they could be intercepted, which is why using an app provides assurance that on one can get at the code you use to confirm your identity.

They are easy to set up and use, and theyre quicker to use, since you dont have to wait for codes to be sent to you.

They can even provide you with access when you cant receive SMSes.

You install one on your iOS device, and some also work on the Mac or even the Apple Watch, providing you quick access to codes even if you dont have your iPhone handy.

This sends specific information to the app that allows it to generate the correct codes.

In most cases, these codes refresh every 30 seconds, and the apps tell you how much time you have left.

There are versions of the app for iPhone and iPad, but there is no Apple Watch app.

For some people this may be sufficient, but I feel that an app like this should do more.

This means that if you lose your iPhone, or if your iPhone gets replaced due to a repair, or even if you upgrade to a newer iPhone and restore your data via iCloud or iTunes, unfortunately you cannot rely on Google Authenticator to let you back into your accounts.

There are iOS and Android apps, an Apple Watch app, a desktop app for Mac, and a browser plugin for Chrome.

To begin with, Authy requires that you confirm your device via a code sent by SMS or phone call.

You are then asked to set up a password for access to your backups; Authy stores encrypted backups of your 2FA services that you can recover on other devices with this password.

This means that you can generate 2FA codes from any device that 1Password supports: iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows.

There is also a 1Password app for Apple Watch which allows you quick access to authorization codes.

And when you log into a site using 1Password (as opposed to using iCloud Keychain) the app automatically copies a one-time code to your clipboard for 30 seconds, and you can paste it immediately in the required field.

If you do sign in with iCloud Keychainwhich in many cases is quicker, especially on the Macthen youll need to go to the 1Password app to get your code.

You can check out the unofficial Two Factor Auth List site for a partial list of some services that work with 2FA apps (look for a check mark in the Software Token column, and click on the link under the Docs column for more info about implementing 2FA for that service).

If all you want is two-factor codes, Google Authenticator (although popular) is too limited, while Authy is a great choice.

But 1Password gives you a lot more flexibility, providing two-factor codes in addition to storing your passwords, and more.

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