5 ms·

It's truly and deeply frustrating to me how many sites and services push "Google Authenticator" branding instead of specifying that it's TOTP or that literally

It's truly and deeply frustrating to me how many sites and services push "Google Authenticator" branding instead of specifying that it's TOTP or that literally any good 2FA app will work. It's almost to that "Google" = "search" level, but for a more niche aspect.

loloquwowndueo 5y ago
Back in the day it was the best-known and most reliably available cross-platform (iOS, android) code generator - so many sites just assume it as a de facto standard. It also reduces support burden to tell people this is the officially supported code generator, that way you don’t need to struggle understanding why a random app might be having trouble with codes. These days it’s much less of an issue as there are many more clients - the IdP I manage now mentions authy, tofu and 1password as also supported.
- tinus_hn 5y ago
  Also Google Authenticator does not allow you to include your codes in your backup, even when it’s encrypted. So due to Google Authenticator, losing your 2fa codes is an expected problem and many companies allow you to reset it by simply calling them. It sounds really secure but it really is not.
  - nanidin 5y ago
    Google Authenticator has a feature to allow export of all saved codes into one QR code for re-import into Google Authenticator running on another device. I printed a copy of my export QR code for use in case my device is lost or stolen.
    - greggman3 5y ago
      Thanks! I hadn't seen that feature. Just checked it out. It shows multiple QR codes (in my case 2 QR codes which contain 11 TOTPs total) that you can scan from another device running Google Authenticator to transfer to codes. I guess I can screenshot those QR goes to back up (scary)
animex 5y ago
In Fortune 1000 land, Microsoft Authenticator rules the land. I love it because most have implemented notification push-authentication with biometric verification. Some sites will use that in lieu of any password at all. The worst is when separate apps & companies roll their own authenticator app.
- maximum_stress 5y ago
  As well it should. It's rare for me to defend Microsoft anything, but in this case I will. MS authenticator happily backs itself up to the cloud if you let it. Whether you consider that good or just another attack vector is up to you, but keep in mind if you switch phones, you'll be setting up TOTP again for every service in Google authenticator.
- filoleg 5y ago
  For me personally, Microsoft Authenticator started ruling as well recently, after 5+ years with Google Authenticator. Why? I have already mentioned it in other comments before, and it is due to Google’s insistence on not implementing recovery from backup. If i store my 2FA in google authenticator and something happens to my phone? I am in a world of serious pain. If i upgrade phones? I have to disable and re-enable 2FA on my new phone manually for every single service I use. Microsoft Authenticator solves both of those problems, as they have recently (less than a year ago iirc) added a “backup to cloud” feature. No more stressing about something happening to my phone, as long as i have my (single) primary recovery key stored on a piece of paper somewhere safe (as opposed to having a paper recovery key for every 2fa service i use). Prior to this, i was seriously considering getting a cheap backup phone to which i set up all the 2fa codes simultaneously with my main phone, then put that cheap phone in a bank cell/safe/etc., and then rely on it in case something happens to my main phone. That would still not solve the problem of manual transfer and disabling/re-enabling 2fa for every single service, but that would be much better than losing the device. Note: I know Authy exists and had this functionality of cloud syncing 2FA keys between logged in devices for years, but for some irrational reason i was sticking with the “simpler is better, and i somehow trust google more with this one”, but luckily, I trust MSFT with my 2FA no less than i would google, perhaps even moreso. And the biometric 2FA for services that support it (so far, I’ve only seen it used with certain corporate MSFT services) are a nice cherry on top.
tialaramex 5y ago
Microsoft's stuff all wants you to install the Microsoft Authenticator which needs a Microsoft account for some reason and that (for me anyway) then immediately wanted me to setup 2FA, for which it required me to install the Microsoft Authenticator, which ... you can see how that goes. As I began to experience Déjà vu on the first day of a new job I snapped out of it, removed the Microsoft Authenticator and told it nah, I'm OK actually, show me that QR code for "other authenticators" and never looked back.
- jaywalk 5y ago
  Microsoft Authenticator is more than just TOTP, which is why it wants a Microsoft account. It also supports push approvals.
  - greggman3 5y ago
    I'm a little surprised Google hasn't don't this but I guess they have give gmail. Sign into google and it will ask me to approve on my gmail app. Not entirely sure I like these "authenticate on from another device". Just yesterday I mis-placed my phone. I wanted to sign into iCloud.com for use "find my phone" feature from my PC. It required me to use apple's authentication via a code sent to the phone, the exact thing I was looking for! :(
ezekg 5y ago
I'm not sure why you're being down voted, but I agree. I've had several discussions where people think Authy is incompatible with sites that prompt for Google Authenticator, like it's some special more-secure TOTP app.
unclebucknasty 5y ago
It's about the perception of security and reducing friction. Everyone knows Google, so you don't have to convince users of the trustworthiness of a lesser-known brand or open source project within the sensitive context of increasing security.
- fraa-orolo 5y ago
  Have you seen users? I have to convince users not to install random crap.
pilsetnieks 5y ago
On the one hand, I agree but on the other, this is the one case where you cannot take any chance of having your user install some random dodgy app that promises the same functionality.

loloquwowndueo 5y ago

Back in the day it was the best-known and most reliably available cross-platform (iOS, android) code generator - so many sites just assume it as a de facto standard. It also reduces support burden to tell people this is the officially supported code generator, that way you don’t need to struggle understanding why a random app might be having trouble with codes. These days it’s much less of an issue as there are many more clients - the IdP I manage now mentions authy, tofu and 1password as also supported.

tinus_hn 5y ago
Also Google Authenticator does not allow you to include your codes in your backup, even when it’s encrypted. So due to Google Authenticator, losing your 2fa codes is an expected problem and many companies allow you to reset it by simply calling them. It sounds really secure but it really is not.
- nanidin 5y ago
  Google Authenticator has a feature to allow export of all saved codes into one QR code for re-import into Google Authenticator running on another device. I printed a copy of my export QR code for use in case my device is lost or stolen.
  - greggman3 5y ago
    Thanks! I hadn't seen that feature. Just checked it out. It shows multiple QR codes (in my case 2 QR codes which contain 11 TOTPs total) that you can scan from another device running Google Authenticator to transfer to codes. I guess I can screenshot those QR goes to back up (scary)

animex 5y ago

In Fortune 1000 land, Microsoft Authenticator rules the land. I love it because most have implemented notification push-authentication with biometric verification. Some sites will use that in lieu of any password at all. The worst is when separate apps & companies roll their own authenticator app.

maximum_stress 5y ago
As well it should. It's rare for me to defend Microsoft anything, but in this case I will. MS authenticator happily backs itself up to the cloud if you let it. Whether you consider that good or just another attack vector is up to you, but keep in mind if you switch phones, you'll be setting up TOTP again for every service in Google authenticator.
filoleg 5y ago
For me personally, Microsoft Authenticator started ruling as well recently, after 5+ years with Google Authenticator. Why? I have already mentioned it in other comments before, and it is due to Google’s insistence on not implementing recovery from backup. If i store my 2FA in google authenticator and something happens to my phone? I am in a world of serious pain. If i upgrade phones? I have to disable and re-enable 2FA on my new phone manually for every single service I use. Microsoft Authenticator solves both of those problems, as they have recently (less than a year ago iirc) added a “backup to cloud” feature. No more stressing about something happening to my phone, as long as i have my (single) primary recovery key stored on a piece of paper somewhere safe (as opposed to having a paper recovery key for every 2fa service i use). Prior to this, i was seriously considering getting a cheap backup phone to which i set up all the 2fa codes simultaneously with my main phone, then put that cheap phone in a bank cell/safe/etc., and then rely on it in case something happens to my main phone. That would still not solve the problem of manual transfer and disabling/re-enabling 2fa for every single service, but that would be much better than losing the device. Note: I know Authy exists and had this functionality of cloud syncing 2FA keys between logged in devices for years, but for some irrational reason i was sticking with the “simpler is better, and i somehow trust google more with this one”, but luckily, I trust MSFT with my 2FA no less than i would google, perhaps even moreso. And the biometric 2FA for services that support it (so far, I’ve only seen it used with certain corporate MSFT services) are a nice cherry on top.

tialaramex 5y ago

Microsoft's stuff all wants you to install the Microsoft Authenticator which needs a Microsoft account for some reason and that (for me anyway) then immediately wanted me to setup 2FA, for which it required me to install the Microsoft Authenticator, which ... you can see how that goes. As I began to experience Déjà vu on the first day of a new job I snapped out of it, removed the Microsoft Authenticator and told it nah, I'm OK actually, show me that QR code for "other authenticators" and never looked back.

jaywalk 5y ago
Microsoft Authenticator is more than just TOTP, which is why it wants a Microsoft account. It also supports push approvals.
- greggman3 5y ago
  I'm a little surprised Google hasn't don't this but I guess they have give gmail. Sign into google and it will ask me to approve on my gmail app. Not entirely sure I like these "authenticate on from another device". Just yesterday I mis-placed my phone. I wanted to sign into iCloud.com for use "find my phone" feature from my PC. It required me to use apple's authentication via a code sent to the phone, the exact thing I was looking for! :(

ezekg 5y ago

I'm not sure why you're being down voted, but I agree. I've had several discussions where people think Authy is incompatible with sites that prompt for Google Authenticator, like it's some special more-secure TOTP app.

unclebucknasty 5y ago

It's about the perception of security and reducing friction. Everyone knows Google, so you don't have to convince users of the trustworthiness of a lesser-known brand or open source project within the sensitive context of increasing security.

fraa-orolo 5y ago
Have you seen users? I have to convince users not to install random crap.

pilsetnieks 5y ago

On the one hand, I agree but on the other, this is the one case where you cannot take any chance of having your user install some random dodgy app that promises the same functionality.