Two-factor authentication (also known as two-step verification, or 2FA) is a security feature that requires users to enter two or three pieces of information before accessing a service. It’s becoming more common and can help keep your data secure by requiring you to enter a unique code sent to your phone or another device.
There are several apps available for both Android and iOS phones that can help you set up and use 2FA. If you have an app supporting either platform, it’s time to choose one!
Yubico Authentication
Yubico is a hardware-based two-factor authentication system that works with apps and devices you already use. It’s easy to set up, has a wide range of integrations, and its open protocol makes it compatible with multiple authentication methods.
Yubico’s hardware token can be used in conjunction with any app or service that supports Android, iOS, or Windows Phone 8 apps on your smartphone (or desktop). You can add multiple credentials for different logins at once—for example:
One that uses your regular password plus another one that uses the YubiKey. The latter will act as an extra layer of security when logging into critical websites like banking sites or email accounts where sensitive information may be stored by third parties such as PayPal or Google Wallet.
Duo Mobile
Duo Mobile is one of the best two-factor authentication apps to use on your phone. It’s available for both Android and iOS, but it’s not free—and you won’t get much out of it unless your device has two-factor authentication enabled, which most modern phones do by default.
If that sounds confusing, don’t worry: here’s how it works. When you log into a website like Gmail or Facebook with Duo Mobile installed on your phone, an extra step will be required before logging into the account:
typing in a six-digit verification code provided by another person who can’t see what information was entered into the sign-in page (like Google Authenticator).
This step makes sure that no one else can access sensitive information stored on your device without first having access to it themselves—including hackers!
Google Authenticator
Google Authenticator is a free mobile app for Android and iOS that generates one-time passcodes, known as “codes.” The codes can be used to verify your identity when logging in to different accounts on different devices.
It uses 256-bit encryption, which means it offers the highest level of security out of all two-factor authentication apps available today. Google Authenticator also supports multiple accounts, so you can have one account for banking and another for shopping or social media apps, for example.
This makes it easier to manage multiple passwords across multiple websites without having to memorize them all individually every time you log in!
You’ll need an internet connection since Google Authenticator sends verification codes via SMS text message (or SMS cellular data network), so make sure your device has good reception before trying this method out!
Authy
Authy is a great 2FA app that works on all major email providers and browsers, making it easy to install. The app also has a good mobile app that’s available for Android and iOS devices.
The best part about Authy is its simplicity—you can set up the account in just a few minutes if you have an email address already associated with another service (like Gmail). Once you’ve done so, Authy will generate an authentication token that automatically sends to your phone when prompted. It’s as simple as that!
Microsoft Authenticator
Microsoft Authenticator is a two-factor authentication app that works with Windows, Android, and iOS. It can be used to generate one-time codes for signing into your account and other services that use the same authentication system (like Google).
As you might expect from its name, Microsoft Authenticator also lets you sign in to your Microsoft account. This means that if someone has access to your phone number or email address (or both), they can access the same accounts as you do—but only if they have access too!
LastPass Authenticator
LastPass Authenticator is one of the most versatile apps when it comes to two-factor authentication. The app works on Android, iOS, and Windows devices and can be used with LastPass Premium or LastPass Families.
It also has a feature that allows you to use other two-factor apps as well—for example, Google Authenticator or Authy. This makes it one of the best options if you want to use more than one method of verification at once!
FreeOTP
FreeOTP is a free two-factor authenticator app that supports multiple authentication methods, including hardware tokens and U2F. It’s also open source, meaning you can check out the source code if you want to customize it yourself.
FreeOTP is compatible with a wide range of services and supports both TOTP (Time-based OneTime Password) and HOTP (Hierarchical Token Protocol).
Toopher
Toopher is a two-factor authentication app that provides security for your online accounts. It’s an alternative to Google Authenticator, which only works on iOS devices. Toopher can be used on Android and iOS devices, so you don’t have to worry about which operating system your device runs on.
Toopher works by generating numbers that are generated in response to the relevant password or PIN code entered into them when logging into any website or app with two-factor authentication enabled.
This means that if someone hacks into your account, they won’t be able to access it unless they know both pieces of information (the password/PIN code combination and one of those generated numbers).
Use a two-factor authentication app to make your device’s password more secure
Two-factor authentication is a security method that requires two separate proofs of identification. This prevents hackers from gaining access to your account, and it can also help you recover a compromised device if the password is forgotten or stolen.
There are many different types of two-factor authentication apps available on the market today. Some are free; others cost money but come with other benefits such as extra features such as remote wipe capabilities or the ability to generate temporary passwords for certain websites (like Gmail).
The most secure methods use physical tokens such as keys, which are locked away in an app until they’re needed again—you don’t want anyone else using them!
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you to understand what two-factor authentication is, why it’s so important, and which apps are best for your needs. If you have any questions about our list or if there are other apps we should consider adding to this list, please let us know in the comments below!