Having a password manager is useful while setting up a new Android or iPhone smartphone. Most people often use weak or repeated password and that’s why They’re exploiting themselves for potential data theft. In this feature, I will introduce to you the 8 best authenticator apps for iPhone and Android devices, in order to keep your accounts safe and sound.
However, companies like Google and Apple have provided an extra layer of protection to safeguard your account. You can add verification of your mobile number, use your Android phone to verify your account or use the temporary OTP from two-factor authentication apps. authenticator apps
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What You Will Learn Here:
- Why Do You Want to Use Two-factor Authentication Apps?
- How to use the Authenticator Apps?
- 8 best Authenticator Apps for iPhone and Android
- 1. Google Authenticator
- 2. Microsoft Authenticator
- 3. Authy Factor Authentication
- 4. LastPass Authenticator
- 5. 2FA Authenticator
- 6. Duo Mobile
- 7. 1Password
- 8. TOTP Authenticator
- Related
Why Do You Want to Use Two-factor Authentication Apps?
Two-factor authentication is a way to add an extra layer of security to your accounts. It combines something that you learn: your user name and password, with something that you have: a code that is sent to you through a service or created by an app. Because data breaches are so frequent and, let’s admit, many people re-use passwords since good passwords are hard to remember, “something you know” may also be in the possession of miscreants. authenticator apps
However, The basic idea is that a single password for your important accounts is simply not enough. If your password is guessed, or if hackers steal a database with your login information in plain text, your account is a sitting duck. Two-factor authentication attempts to address this flaw by requiring a secondary code called a one-time password (OTP)—usually, six characters long and generated by a smartphone app— before you can access your account. That way, even if a hacker has your password, they’re still going to have to crack a secondary code, which makes it much harder to get in.
How to use the Authenticator Apps?
Two-factor authentication apps are simple and easy to use. You install one on your iOS and Android device. Each service sets up 2FA differently, but most provide you with a QR code that you can scan with your Android and iOS device’s camera when in the authorization app. This sends specific information to the app that allows it to generate the correct codes.
Furthermore, enter your username and password when you want to log into a service and then, when prompted for a code, go to your device and create one. Those codes refresh every 30 seconds in most situations, and the apps inform you how much time you’ve left. You can either copy the code you want to paste into your device’s login screen or type it into another device like your phone.
8 best Authenticator Apps for iPhone and Android
Well, there are lots of authenticator apps available for both Android and iPhone smartphones but here, I am going to mention 8 best authenticator apps for Android and iPhone.
1. Google Authenticator
Google Authenticator
Google is offering an authenticator app for Android and iOS. The company has encouraged users to opt-in device prompts to verify the details, but this trick only works with Android and not with iOS. The setup is simple, enter a manual code or scan the QR code from the desktop screen and you are ready to go. Google authenticator is one of the best authenticator apps for securing your accounts.
2. Microsoft Authenticator
Microsoft Authenticator
The Microsoft Authenticator app is easy to set up and use. It also has an app password protection that ensures that even if you give someone your phone call or watch a video, they won’t be able to see the verification codes inside this app. Microsoft Authenticator also supports secure iCloud backups. This makes it super useful when you delete your iPhone or switch to a new one and don’t have an encrypted backup.
3. Authy Factor Authentication
Authy
Authy is going a lot further than Google Authenticator. There are iOS and Android apps, an Apple Watch app, a Mac desktop app, and a Chrome browser plugin. To begin with, Authy requires you to confirm your device through a code sent by SMS or a phone call. You are then asked to set up a password to access your backups; Authy stores encrypted backups of your 2FA services that you can retrieve with this password on other devices.
4. LastPass Authenticator
LastPass Authenticator
Most password managers also duplicate as authenticator apps, so you can use the apps to generate 2FA codes as well as remember all your login details, but we particularly want to highlight LastPass on this occasion— you can choose both free and paid versions of the app, and it works seamlessly across all your devices and browsers.
As far as the specific LastPass authenticator app is concerned, it’s a breeze to use: it can work with SMS messages and push notifications for your logins, as well as generate codes, and it will also keep all of your accounts and codes backed up in the cloud. It’s not the most polished interface we’ve ever seen, but it manages to get the job done.
5. 2FA Authenticator
2FA AUTH
2FA keeps the stuff simple. It’s similar to Google and Microsoft, but if you’re going to live out of the shadow of Google and Microsoft, go for it. The app does not provide backup/restore service, nor does it use any Face ID authentication, but it does the right basics and does the job.
6. Duo Mobile
Duo Mobile
Duo’s security services are primarily aimed at companies, but anyone can use its secure, accurate authenticator app— like the other apps we’ve listed here, it supports a wide variety of third-party accounts (from Amazon to Snapchat), and set-up is as quick and simple as you’d expect (usually just a few taps and a QR code scan).
If you have multiple accounts set up inside the app, they can be easily identified and managed from a single master list, and if you use help push notifications, they can also be handled on your desktop. Additionally, if you have biometric security on your phone, this can be used by Duo Mobile to help verify your identity. authenticator apps
7. 1Password
1Password
1Password handles the 2FA codes together with your username and password, unlike Google Authenticator or Authy, which only shows icons for your services and then produces authentication codes. If you use 1Password’s subscription service, you can sync your database through the 1Password servers; if you use the standalone app, you can sync your database through Dropbox.
This means that from any device that 1Password supports, you can generate 2FA codes: iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows. Apple Watch also has a 1Password app that allows you to quickly access authorization codes. authenticator apps
8. TOTP Authenticator
TOTP Authenticator
TOTP authenticator’s main highlight for iPhone and Android is its widget, which helps you to easily display 2FA codes without even opening the app. You can also create custom icons to help you identify your accounts easily. In Microsoft Authenticator, I’d really like this feature. Since I have added over twenty different services, it would be helpful to be able to set custom icons. authenticator apps
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Conclusion
That’s it! This feature was about the 8 best authenticator apps for iPhone and Android. As you can see from the above list, every app can fill in as an extra layer of security. Google and Microsoft provide a robust alternative while Authy and LastPass use extra features such as smooth data transfer and biometrics.
