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Authy is retiring its desktop apps this summer
The company is shifting its focus exclusively to its mobile apps moving forward
These days, it's pretty much the standard for companies to ask us to set up a personal account for almost everything we do online. To help manage our tens, if not hundreds, of accounts, we have numerous great password managers to choose from. Still, the threat of phishing attacks and data leaks compromising account credentials looms large. Two-factor authentication adds that extra layer of security that protects our accounts even if an attacker steals our credentials, and one of our favorite 2FA apps is receiving a major update this summer.
How to transfer your Google Authenticator account to a new phone
The process has never been smoother
Using two-factor authentication (2FA) apps ensures your account is safe behind two layers of security. 2FA apps make it difficult for hackers to access your web accounts. Google Authenticator and Authy are two popular options. However, a turn-off to Google's solution is how the codes are stored on your device. They are encrypted using a key that's specific to that phone. You can't access the codes anywhere else.
Google Authenticator has become a mess, and I dread using it
It was annoying before its last big update, but now it's almost unusable
We all know that the first step to securing our digital lives is to have good, strong passwords, all while avoiding using just one that you rely on for every device or account you log into. To help with that, there are plenty of excellent password managers out there to keep all of your passwords locked up and safe from prying eyes, even helping to create passwords for you while keeping them organized and searchable. The next step in keeping your online presence under lock and key is to use two-factor authentication (2FA) on top of a good password.
What is two-factor authentication (2FA)?
Everything you need to know to make sense of tomorrow’s security needs
Authentication has been a part of digital life since MIT set up a password on their shared-access computer in 1961. Today, authentication covers virtually every interaction you can have on the internet. But up until 2010, the security of most online shopping sites and services only required a basic password. Since then, online spending has grown to over $1 trillion annually in the US alone.
How to update your phone number and address on PayPal
Changed an address or number? Update PayPal right away with these account changes
PayPal is one of the largest online banking and wallet systems in the world, with more than 430 million active users. With an account and deposited cash, you can pay for nearly anything on the web, which makes PayPal important for all kinds of users.
How Apple Advanced Data Protection compares with Google's Advanced Protection Program
Here's the difference between Apple and Google help you to protect your data
Digital threats are becoming more common and sophisticated, and big tech companies are responding by implementing tighter security measures. In December 2022, Apple announced three security features to protect user data. These features safeguard your iMessage, Apple ID, and iCloud data against external threats. Apple's security program comes nearly three years after Google launched its Advanced Protection Program, which provides similar protections to even your budget Android phone or tablet.
How to automatically delete OTP verification and 2FA codes from your iPhone
Find out how to automatically delete OTP and 2FA codes on your iPhone
Security is of the utmost importance when using any modern device. It's not enough to rely on a combination of e-mail and password. Two-factor authentication on Apple devices works similarly to the way it does on Android-powered tablets and smartphones. In addition to a password, it requires a one-time use code to log in to your account. This code is sent to your phone number or an authenticator app that generates the code. While the codes generated by a third-party app are promptly replaced, codes sent via SMS accumulate over time. It can quickly make your iPhone seem cluttered with outdated codes.
How to automatically delete 2FA texts from Android
OTPs be gone! Make your 2FA texts vanish without tapping any buttons
Two-factor authentication (2FA) messages block unauthorized access to your accounts. If you activated 2FA, you can choose to receive a one-time password (OTP) on the associated mobile number. It's valid for a few seconds or minutes and verifies your identity. Although they have a temporary use, attackers may intercept OTPs with phishing attempts and enter your account. So you should delete them after use.
How to set up two-factor authentication on your Facebook account
Two-factor authentication, also known as 2FA, helps you make sure that only you can access your account
The reality that anyone can access your Instagram and Threads accounts with your Facebook logins can sometimes be scary. Sure, creating a robust password keeps hackers behind bars, but what if they eventually know your password? That's where setting up Facebook two-factor authentication comes in. Also known as 2FA, it adds an extra layer of security to your account, requiring a verification code from your device each time you make a login attempt. That way, anyone needs access to your phone to log in, even if they know your username and password.
How to set up two-factor authentication on Twitter
2FA is no security miracle, but it's better than nothing
With the increasing number of X (formerly known as Twitter) account hijackings, securing your social accounts on your trusty Android phone, favorite Android tablet, or another device is essential. Using two-factor authentication is one of the best ways to do it. Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, is a way to add a layer of security so that an account hijacker can't sign in to your account, even with your username and password. This guide shows you how to set up two-factor authentication to protect your X account.
How to set up two-factor authentication on Discord
Add an extra layer of security to your Discord account
Social media's growth over the past few years has been transcendent. However, with more people coming online each year, account hijacking has become rampant. It's critical to secure your account by adding an extra layer of security, and the best way to do this is by using two-factor authentication (2FA). Almost all social apps, like Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Discord, have 2FA support.
How to set up two-factor authentication on Amazon
Bump up your Amazon safety with its two-step verification. Here's how it all works
Two-factor authentication/verification is now so common you probably do it without thinking. This type of security asks you to confirm your identity via another channel, like sending a text code or an email. It's an easy process and a powerful defense against identity theft, which is why it pops up when you use an unfamiliar device.
Google Authenticator now backs up OTPs so you’re not SOL when your 2FA device goes MIA
Cloud backup and a new app icon
Google Authenticator is one of the best standalone two-factor authentication apps out there, but it has one glaring weakness: the one-time passwords (OTPs) it generates are only accessible from one device, as the service lacks any form of cloud backup. That’s finally changing with a new feature that can sync 2FA codes to your Google account, allowing you to use Authenticator on multiple devices simultaneously.
Here's why you should enable 2FA on all of your financial accounts
2FA is well worth the extra few seconds during login
The digital age has made handling your personal finances more convenient than ever before. You can do your personal banking from your couch when you have a laptop or phone nearby. One drawback of this change is that bank accounts are more vulnerable to cybercrime. You can easily boost the security of your online accounts by using two-factor authentication (also known as 2FA). Where the best smart home security systems are great for household safety, 2FA is what you need for online safety.
How to activate two-factor authentication on your Google account
Add an extra layer of protection to keep your personal data secure
With character-based passwords being the weakest link of the security chain, it's time we got more serious about protecting our online accounts (if you want to get serious about a new phone, we can help you). Two-factor authentication (2FA) is the stopgap between character-based passwords and a passwordless future. Many companies have adopted 2FA, which is necessary to keep up with the increased security demands of the modern era. Google is no exception here, as it recently began forcibly enabling 2FA by default for more accounts without users needing to do anything.
Choosing your preferred password manager and using it to create and store your login credentials is the most important step you can take to secure your online life. Still, passwords can leak, and credential phishing is a big problem. That's why you should rely on a second factor other than your password to authenticate yourself. That's where two-factor authentication (2FA) comes in.
The internet has always been a place where you need to be careful about how and with whom you share your personal information. But as we live more of our lives online and more of the services upon which we depend are based on the web, the need to be secure with our critical personal data has dramatically increased (if you need security in the real world, take a look at the Blink Outdoor camera).
How to use Google Authenticator or Authy to keep your accounts secure
The best way to stay safe online
Internet fraudsters are always looking for accounts to hack in hopes of getting access to valuable personal information. History has proven that passwords are no longer sufficient to safeguard you. So, it's best to secure your online profiles as much as possible with other methods. Security systems like two-factor authentication (2FA) have been developed over the years to provide an additional step to the login process. This ensures that dubious characters cannot access your account even if they manage to get a hold of your passwords.
WhatsApp would really, really, pretty-please like you to enable 2FA
You really should use 2FA across all your online accounts
In the US, Google is heavily pushing Apple to adopt RCS for iMessage to deliver a better messaging experience for Android and iPhone users. However, WhatsApp dominates the messaging market in Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world. The popularity of the Meta-owned service makes it a prime target for hackers and scammers who are always looking for ways to gain unauthorized access to your account. For additional security, WhatsApp provides two-factor authentication so you can further secure your account using a PIN. But not everyone uses or knows about two-factor authentication, and the messaging service wants to change that.
Authy has been hacked, here is how to protect yourself
One of the most trusted 2FA apps has suffered a breach, affecting a few unlucky individuals
Authy is one of the most trusted 2FA apps out there, and it’s one of our recommendations among a pool of great 2FA apps. Unfortunately, any service that relies on a server-based infrastructure can be hacked if the attacker is just sophisticated enough, and this is exactly what happened to Authy’s parent company Twilio. In an elaborate social engineering attack, a bad actor gained access to employee’s accounts, in turn compromising the security of Authy and a handful of Twilio customers, including LastPass.