Implementing 2FA in Django using Time-based one time password, Enhancing application security using 2FA and TOTP, Generating QR code for Authenticator Applications, Time based 6 digit token for enhanced security, Python code to generate TOTP every 30 seconds, HMAC, TOTP, Django, 2FA, QR Code, Authenticator, Security, Token, Login. The default mode of 2FA on WazirX is via SMS/Email. But if you would like to perform app based 2FA, you will need to install authenticator apps like Google Authenticator, Authy which display a 6-digit passcode on the opening screen & you typically get 30 seconds to use it. Two-factor authentication is an extra layer of protection for your 1Password account. When turned on, a second factor will be required to sign in to your account on a new device, in addition to your Master Password and Secret Key. Learn more about authentication and encryption in the 1Password.
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In the first part of our series, A Guide to Protecting and Monitoring Your Personal Cyber Security, we review the latest thinking and guidelines around using two-factor authentication (2FA) and passwords to protect your online identity.
Criminals want your identity credentials so they can steal from you or mask their identity when committing a crime. With the increasing scale and sophistication of attacks today, using just a password to access a service or website is not a good idea. Coupling 2FA with a password manager is a much better way to ensure identity safety.
What Is 2FA?
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a method of identity confirmation that relies on a combination of two different factors. Examples of factors include 1) something you know, 2) something you have, or 3) something you are. Some examples of 2FA: using a debit card in combination with a PIN, or combining a password with a code sent to your phone.
2FA is one type of multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA can have two or more factors and, it stands to reason, if you are using all three factors from the list above, you have better online security. An example of MFA would be using a debit card, a PIN, and a retina scan.
Security Questions: A Bad MFA Method
Security questions are not a good example of multi-factor authentication. Yes, the answer counts as a second piece of data (it’s something that you know) but, increasingly, it’s something that is very easy to discover. The ‘sharing economy’ means your favorite color, the name of your high school, or your favorite sports team isn’t exactly secret any longer.
In addition, the sheer number of data breaches means that harvesting data from a social network may not even be necessary. A breach trends research report by F5 Labs concludes that “there have been so many breaches that attacker databases are enriched to the point where they can impersonate an individual and answer secret questions to get direct access to accounts without ever having to work through the impacted party.”
The report found that 3,360,563,907 secret question and answer records were compromised in the 338 analyzed cases that included breach counts.
Which 2FA Method Should I Use?
So, given that security questions aren’t a good approach, how should you implement 2FA? There are basically three widely-implemented 2FA methods: hardware token, app, and SMS text message.
Today, pairing something you know (like a password) with a hardware token (something you have) offers the most security. At login, you insert the hardware token and it emits a one-time password or generates a secure public/private key pair to give you access. YubiKey is one such token that works with Google, Facebook, Windows, Dropbox, and many more services.
Authenticator apps such as Authy, Google Authenticator, and Microsoft Authenticator are dedicated apps typically installed on your phone. You then use your name and password combination, and the app provides an additional one-time password. As with hardware tokens, these options typically work with a huge selection of popular services.
The least-secure 2FA method today is one that pairs your login credentials with a code sent via SMS as the second factor. This method is much less secure than the other two because text messages can be hijacked.
Where – and How – Do I Use 2FA?
Once you’ve researched the various hardware token and authenticator app vendors and selected a few finalists, visit the vendor websites to see the list of services their product supports. This will likely help you narrow down your list of finalists.
Once you’ve selected your vendor, chances are that the vendor’s website will provide detailed tutorials on enabling 2FA using their product and your favorite service. Alternately, Turn It On provides many tutorials as well.
Finally, if your favorite service isn’t yet 2FA-ready, twofactorauth.org provides a robust list of services and the types of 2FA each supports. They even make it easy to reach out via Twitter or Facebook to services that don’t support 2FA so you can urge them to support 2FA.
Passwords and Password Managers
In a recent post, we talked about the latest thinking on how to create strong passwords. The important highlights:
- The length of the password is important.
- Regularly changing passwords or creating complex passwords is not recommended.
Also not recommended: documenting your password on a sticky note attached to your monitor.
However, you can do away with much of the worry about passwords simply by investing in a password manager. Password managers do the work of generating and storing strong passwords for the sites you use – across mobile devices and desktop systems. These apps use advanced encryption to keep your information safe.
PC Magazine, Lifehacker, and The Wire Cutter have recent reviews and ratings on password managers.
Combining 2FA and a Password Manager
To strengthen your online protection, pair 2FA with a password manager. By using 2FA to log into your password manager, you get additional security to protect your password list. So, for example, you would use your authenticator app to log into your password manager, and then use the authenticator app again to complete the login to your online service.
Recent articles have cautioned against using 2FA built into the password manager itself. In one case, an implementation flaw was identified. Another article warns of putting many eggs into one basket. Instead, considering implementing both a 2FA method and a password manager.
There’s no such as perfect security. But using 2FA and a password manager will go a long way to protecting your online identity. Click below to learn more about Teramind.
Protect And Monitor Your
Organization’s Data With Teramind
Two-factor authentication is an extra layer of protection for your 1Password account. When turned on, a second factor will be required to sign in to your account on a new device, in addition to your Master Password and Secret Key.
Learn more about authentication and encryption in the 1Password security model.
Get an authenticator app
Before you can use two-factor authentication with your 1Password account, you’ll need to install an authenticator app on your mobile device:
Although 1Password can be used to store one-time passwords for other services where you use two-factor authentication, it’s important to use a different authenticator app to store the authentication codes for your 1Password account. Storing them in 1Password would be like putting the key to a safe inside the safe itself.
Set up two-factor authentication
To turn on two-factor authentication:
- Sign in to your account on 1Password.com.
- Click your name in the top right and choose My Profile.
- Click More Actions > Manage Two-Factor Authentication.
- Click Set Up App. You’ll see a square barcode (QR code).
To save a backup of your two-factor authentication code, write down the 16-character secret next to the QR code and store it somewhere safe, like with your passport and Emergency Kit.
- On your mobile device, open your authenticator app and use it to scan the QR code. After you scan the QR code, you’ll see a six-digit authentication code.
- On 1Password.com, click Next. Enter the six-digit authentication code, then click Confirm.
Your 1Password account is now protected by two-factor authentication. To continue using your account on other devices or to sign in to it on a new device, you’ll need to enter a six-digit authentication code from your authenticator app.
Tip
After you set up two-factor authentication, if you have a U2F security key, like YubiKey or Titan, you can use it as a second factor with your 1Password account.
View and manage authorized devices
To view your authorized devices, sign in to your account on 1Password.com. Then click your name in the top right and choose My Profile.
To manage an authorized device, clicknext to it. You’ll find these options:
- Deauthorize Device: Your account will be removed from the device.
- Require 2FA on Next Sign-in: Your account will remain on the device, but changes you make on other devices won’t appear until you reauthorize using a second factor.
Manage two-factor authentication for your team
With 1Password Business, you can manage two-factor authentication for your team if:
- you’re a team administrator or owner
- you belong to a group that has the “Manage Settings” permission
To manage two-factor authentication for your team, click Security in the sidebar and choose “Two-Factor Authentication”. Then you can:
- Allow security keys in addition to an authenticator app.
- Enforce two-factor authentication for everyone on your team.*
- Use Duo, a third-party option that’s automatically enforced.
- Turn off two-factor authentication completely.
* To enforce two-factor authentication, your Master Password policy must be set to Strong. Your team will need to set up two-factor authentication when they sign up, sign in, or unlock 1Password. Create a team report to see who uses two-factor authentication.
Get help
Two-factor authentication requires a 1Password membership and 1Password 7 or later (or 1Password 6.8 for Mac).
If you lose access to your authenticator app
If you lose access to your authenticator app, you won’t be able to sign in to 1Password on new devices until you turn off two-factor authentication.
To turn off two-factor authentication, sign in to your account on 1Password.com in an authorized browser or unlock 1Password on an authorized device:
1Password.com
- Click your name in the top right and choose My Profile.
- Click More Actions > Manage Two-Factor Authentication.
- Click Turn Off Two-Factor Authentication, then enter your Master Password.
Mac
Choose 1Password > Preferences > Accounts. Click your account, then click Turn Off Two-Factor Authentication.
iOS and Android
Tap Settings > 1Password Accounts. Tap your account, then tap Turn Off Two-Factor Authentication.
Windows
1password Authenticator App
Choose Accounts and select your account, then click “Turn off two-factor authentication”.
If you don’t have access to an authorized browser or device, ask someone to recover your account.
1password Google Authenticator
If your team uses Duo
If your team uses Duo, you won’t see the option to turn on two-factor authentication because Duo is already providing multi-factor authentication for everyone on your team.
If 1Password isn’t accepting your authentication codes
Make sure the date and time are set correctly on Mac , iOS , Windows , and Android .