How do you feel about 2FA / MFA verification to use a website or service?

Soldato
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I prefer using an MFA App with OTPs, I have got a bit lazy, on some sites I have Bitwarden storing the creds and the OTP, unless it's critical, in which case I handle them separately.
 

Deleted member 651465

D

Deleted member 651465

I use 2FA on any website that supports it, although I use 1Password to generate the codes.

If they want my mobile number and there's no way to use an authenticator app then I'll consider if I want to join. If it's some junk site that I need to join for a specific purpose then I'll go elsewhere.
 
Soldato
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London
No reason to use 2fa unless the account is actually important, like online banking, for trivial stuff like forum accounts I don't bother.
Except it's extremely common for "hackers" to gain access to important stuff via other less secure systems where you've used the same/variation of your 'usual' password.
 
Soldato
Joined
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7,748
I prefer using an MFA App with OTPs, I have got a bit lazy, on some sites I have Bitwarden storing the creds and the OTP, unless it's critical, in which case I handle them separately.

OTP is ok as long as I get an SMS text, its annoying but I can live with it, its apps I have an issue with as I don't have anything that can run them natively. Windows 11 is supposed to run android apps so that looks like that may be a solution...


Except it's extremely common for "hackers" to gain access to important stuff via other less secure systems where you've used the same/variation of your 'usual' password.

So don't use the same darn passwords then. I've been using passwords for 20 years and havn't had anything hacked yet but then I don't use passwords that can be easily guessed, leaks of databases are another matter but then its a case of change all your passwords. It feels like once again the internet is being dumbed down for dumb users who need their hands holding because they're too stupid or too lazy to take security seriously. Sorry but this just annoys me.
 
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Soldato
Joined
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Liverpool
It depends. For my bank or email 2FA then yes. For random sites then no and it would stop me joining.
This. I’m not doing 2FA for anyone other than the most trusted sources.

I assume you mean SMS or email based? Just enable OTP.

Personally I use OTP + Yubikey + SSH key (or GPG in one or two cases). If it doesn't have at least three layers I don't want to use it for anything that isn't disposable. For example, passphrase+OTP+Yubikey or passphrase+OTP+SSH.
 
Caporegime
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12 Mar 2004
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England
Except it's extremely common for "hackers" to gain access to important stuff via other less secure systems where you've used the same/variation of your 'usual' password.

It goes without saying that only an idiot would use a similar password for online banking or email that they use for forum accounts.

Having to use 2fa for forums/reddit/etc would just be an irritation for me.
 
Soldato
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Sufferlandria
It goes without saying that only an idiot would use a similar password for online banking or email that they use for forum accounts.
Having to use 2fa for forums/reddit/etc would just be an irritation for me.

It's not just your password. If someone got access to your forum account they can then get things like email address and date of birth from your profile. Another couple of forum accounts to piece together some more information and soon they know enough about you to answer the security questions on your bank account or something like that.
 
Caporegime
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29,913
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England
It's not just your password. If someone got access to your forum account they can then get things like email address and date of birth from your profile. Another couple of forum accounts to piece together some more information and soon they know enough about you to answer the security questions on your bank account or something like that.

Not really, questions like mothers maiden name aren't on a forum account.

My email address is public on my website, it's not a security risk.

Again with the birthday thing, I don't use a real birthday for any forum account.
 
Associate
Joined
29 Sep 2011
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43
Location
UK, Kent
As a security advocate I like using 2FA much better than just using a password. I think all websites should use 2FA. But use app based 2FA not SMS as that could be intercepted. Question for you guys do you use hardware based 2FA like tokens? I'm thinking of getting one like a nitro key or Yubikey wondered if anyone was using one and if so how have you find it
 
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