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When it comes to protecting your profiles and credentials, using authenticator apps as part of your Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) is the best way we currently have to stop hackers from brute-forcing their way into your accounts.
While there are different kinds of MFA, one of the most popular choices is to use an authentication app. These useful programs exist on different devices and produce unique, time-sensitive codes to log in after you enter your password.
Why Do We Need Authenticator Apps?
Weak passwords are responsible for more than 80% of data breaches. People still use passwords like…
- 123456
- password
- admin
- qwerty
- password123
These are still some of the most-used credentials in 2025.
That’s one of many reasons why multi-factor authentication is now accepted or even required on accounts all over the internet.
So why authentication apps specifically? One-time codes sent via text message or email can be hacked, thereby circumventing the purpose of MFA. Biometrics (such as your face or thumbprint) and authentication apps are among the safest forms of MFA.
How Do Authentication Apps Work?
Imagine you’re logging into a confidential work account on your computer. After entering your username and password, a message prompts you to enter the code sent to your authenticator.
You then open your phone, go to the encrypted application you downloaded, and choose the linked account you want to access. The authenticator app will then generate a one-time code. Without the secondary device, hackers couldn’t verify their attempted access.
That’s what makes authenticator apps such a preferable method of MFA. You need a physical, secondary device with a connected program to verify your identity.
Authenticator Apps Are Not Infallible
Unfortunately, threat actors can bypass authenticator apps, although it is not easy and requires sophisticated techniques. Here are some standard methods they use:
Phishing Attacks: Attackers trick users into providing their MFA codes by creating fake login pages that look legitimate.
Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks: Attackers intercept the communication between the user and the authentication server to capture MFA codes.
SIM Swapping: Attackers convince mobile carriers to transfer the victim’s phone number to a new SIM card, allowing them to receive MFA codes sent via SMS
Malware: Malicious software can capture MFA codes directly from the user’s device.
To mitigate these risks, it’s essential to use strong, up-to-date security practices, such as hardware security keys, biometric authentication, and vigilance against phishing attempts!
Over 100 million people worldwide use Microsoft Authenticator. The exact number of users who have downloaded Google Authenticator isn’t none, but it’s our primary authenticator app.
MFA is not impenetrable, but it’s the best armor for protecting our accounts and private data. It increases account security by 99%!
It’s still essential to create strong, complex passwords that are at least 12 characters long and include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Every obstacle you put in place between yourself and cybercriminals makes your accounts and data safer.
Commonwealth Sentinel will help you face your organization’s growing cyber security threats. We can evaluate your existing IT security and work with your team to protect your data and assets. At Commonwealth Sentinel, we are focused on cyber security, so that you can focus on other things. Contact us today or sign up for a free consultation.