Google Authenticator for Android can finally move accounts between devices

Google hasn’t significantly tweaked Authenticator on Android for years (Android Police notes the last big upgrade was in 2017), but it’s about to get a much-needed refresh. The company is rolling out an update that, most notably, lets you transfer ac...

Facebook won’t require a phone number for two-factor authentication

One good thing to come from Facebook's government scrutiny is that the social network makes an advancement in security, it's very loud about the fact. Today Facebook announced that protecting your account via two-factor authentication is getting easi...

Google Authenticator takes security codes from your smartwatch

It can be annoying to set up two-factor authentication and boost the security of your accounts, but Google may have found a way to ease your pain. It's delivering an update to Authenticator for Android that not only touts a "refreshed" design, but r...

Google Authenticator for iOS returns, lost entries are back but may cause dupes

Google Authenticator for iOS returns, lost entries are back but may cause dupes

Just a few days ago Google released a 2.0 version of its Authenticator app for iOS, but a bug made user's entries not show up and the company yanked it. Now v2.0.1 is back in the App Store, and it contains a fix for any two factor authentication users that downloaded the busted version. Based on the release notes, your old keys weren't cleared by the update, but they just weren't displaying. We tried it out on our iOS device that was blank after 2.0 and it worked as advertised, all accounts show up again. Although it's safe to upgrade there is one more issue: anyone who created replacement accounts already will have duplicates. To avoid that, your best bet is to rename any new entries before updating -- staying secure is fun and easy, isn't it?

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Source: iTunes

Google Authenticator for iOS updated, requires a fresh setup afterwards

Google Authenticator for iOS hits v20, but you'll need to set it up again after updating

Two factor authentication is becoming an increasingly common part of keeping one's accounts secure online, and Google has just updated its Authenticator app for iOS. Outwardly, version 2.0 brings a new look that matches the style recently seen in other Google apps like Google+, YouTube and Gmail. The app is also retina display and iPhone 5 ready now, however there's still no native support for the iPad. It still functions the same way, cranking out a login code for users to access their accounts on demand, however there's one quirk you'll want to be aware of before pressing the update button. As Steve Streza points out on Twitter (and we experienced ourselves), the new version clears your account details and will need to be paired again before it works. It shouldn't be too much of a hassle (you did tie your account to a good backup phone number, right?) to get things set up again, but since it's not mentioned in the changelog consider this a friendly heads-up.

Update: Just so we're all caught up, Google is aware of the issue and working on a fix. Just as important, it's pulled the update from the App Store while it works out the kinks to ensure no one else loses their precious Authenticator tokens... even if just temporarily.

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Source: iTunes, Steve Streza (Twitter)

Dropbox two-step login verification available in experimental build, coming to all accounts soon

Dropbox twostep login verification available in experimental build, coming to all accounts soonFollowing up on its promise to tighten account security following a recent breach, Dropbox is now offering two-step login authentication to users who install the service's latest experimental desktop build. The team says the functionality will roll out to all users in the coming days, but listed full instructions to forum users who just can't wait. Those who op-in only need to download a new version of the Dropbox desktop software and activate the feature in their account settings. Once set up, Dropbox will require all unrecognized machines to provide a code, culled from an authenticator app or received via text message. The firm also provides an emergency back-up code that'll disable the feature should you lose your phone. Feeling insecure? Check out the source link below to get started.

Update: Dropbox just made it official, detailing set up instructions once more on the Dropbox blog.

Dropbox two-step login verification available in experimental build, coming to all accounts soon originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 04:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayThru hopes to kill text captchas with game-based authentication

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At their worst, captchas are impossible to decipher; at their best, they're... fun? A startup called Are You a Human has developed PlayThru, an alternative to text-based authentication. Instead of requiring the user to type some blurry, nonsensical word, PlayThru has them play a mini-game, such as dragging and dropping a car into an open parking spot. The startup says this method is more secure than word captchas -- since automated bots have a harder time solving these image-based puzzles -- and more fun, because users generally have a better time when their ability to identify letters isn't called into question. PlayThru has been in beta for several months and is currently available as a free download. On May 21st, the solution will officially launch on both PCs and smartphones. Click through to the source link to try out the captcha alternative for yourself.

PlayThru hopes to kill text captchas with game-based authentication originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 May 2012 23:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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