One of the most impressive authenticator apps on this list, the aptly named Authenticator App by 2Stable, offers a mix of great features. The best authenticator apps of 2023 in full: Nearly 500 accounts were compromised, and the thieves made off with more than $31 million in cryptocurrencies.ĭespite its imperfections, 2FA still provides better protection than passwords alone. In January 2022, for example, was attacked. Try as they might, a hacker or two will figure out a way to gain access to something they shouldn't. 2FA, like every other form of online security, isn't 100% secure. When 2FA options first arrived, many thought online vulnerability would finally end in the tech world. If you're using sync and backup (like many of the apps below), you probably won't have to scan a QR code during setup on another device. You only have to scan the QR code once on a device. That code is valid as the second form of identification for just a few seconds before the authentication app refreshes it. Once you do, the authentication app gets to work by issuing an ever-changing unique code. Without fail, one of the easiest ways to begin using 2FA is by using your smartphone's camera and scanning a QR code provided by the company or website.

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