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Message: <blockquote data-quote="DoughnutANZ" data-source="post: 989217" data-attributes="member: 87627">Yes, I use both the Google and Microsoft Authenticator apps all the time and when ever possible, including to sign into this Forum.It does work off-line although this isn't usually beneficial unless you have the app on a phone with no Internet connection and you are using a different device to connect and log on with.Yes, an authenticator app or a portable security key (psk) are much more secure than SMS. The underlying basis of 2FA is to have two different types of identification, something you know (your password) and something you have (on your person). The authenticator app "proves" that you have it by calculating a number that is a factor of a private key, the device id that it is installed on, the public key of the site that you are logging into and the current time. This provides a unique, time bound key.When this key is presented to the site that you are logging into it applies a different calculation using its own private key, the public key of your app and the time. If everything is correct then the result of this calculation is your device id that it can match with your other login information.The reason that SMS is less secure is that it is possible to port your phone number to a different phone and if you Google this subject then you will find many, many cases where this has been done with criminal intent.It is not possible to port your phone id to a different phone.All security methods have their downside though and the obvious problem with an authenticator app or psk is if you lose your phone/psk or don't have it with you when you want to log in. It is also a minor hassle when you buy a new phone/psk as you need to re-authenticate each of your log on sites.An earlier post on a different thread made a comment about not wanting to use Google authenticator because this would allow Google to track you. The Google app certainly isn't perfect and there are other valid reasons to use a different authenticator app with additional security but I think that it is far better (and more convenient) to use a well known and supported app like the ones from Google and Microsoft rather than not using this security at all. On the other hand if you have the knowledge and desire to use different authenticator apps then of course you are free to do so.</blockquote>

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