I'm new to multi-factor authentication (MFA) and have been putting it off for far too long. I'm looking for a beginner-friendly MFA app that has cross-device compatibility. I want to ensure that if I lose or damage my phone, I can still access my accounts. Is that even possible? I've considered using Authy, but I've come across some privacy concerns regarding it. Microsoft Authenticator seems to be a decent option, but will it work with services outside of Microsoft? I want to secure my banking, investment, Google, and retirement accounts, and I currently use a password manager (Dashlane). I understand that cloud-based solutions aren't always ideal, but they seem like a safer start than not using MFA at all. Any recommendations?
3 Answers
Have you checked if your password manager can handle one-time passwords (OTP) itself? Since you're using Dashlane, it might be able to manage that for you, possibly making your life a bit easier!
You might end up using a mix of authenticators. Microsoft Authenticator and Google Authenticator both support TOTP, which is widely implemented. Personally, I use Google Authenticator for personal accounts and Microsoft Authenticator for work-related ones. If you want extra features, Microsoft Authenticator also allows push notifications, but TOTP works fine for most accounts.
Authy was solid until they stopped supporting their desktop app. If you lose your phone, you might find yourself in a tough spot, especially if you don't have a backup device already linked. Microsoft Authenticator is a better option since it supports TOTP and HOTP, and if you enable cloud backup with the same Microsoft account, you can easily restore it on a new phone. Just keep a recovery code handy somewhere safe in case you lose both your phone and computer at once! Not all services use TOTP though, so make sure you store those recovery codes safely anyway.
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