Google Authenticator, launched in 2010, is one of the most popular apps . It is used by millions of users to authenticate logins to various websites and services. However, it has some drawbacks that should be considered.
Initially, it only works on a few platforms, namely Android, iOS , and Blackberry. Another disadvantage is that users have to set it up separately on each device they use. This is not a big disadvantage for those who do not use their smartphone much, but for those whose smartphone has become an “extension of their hand”, it can be a serious disadvantage because they need to have the device close to them. Another negative feature, which is quite significant, is that every time a user changes phones, they will have to open and close the entire application and synchronize all accounts from the beginning. This is something very tedious, so disabling 2FA may be a good option. Another disadvantage of Google Authenticator is that there is no password or biometric lock in the application. And this ease of access to the application seems to allow any malware to steal 2FA codes directly from Google Authenticator. This is yet another reason why users should stop using this particular app.
So there's a need to find a new service, out of the thousands out there, that performs better than Google Authenticator. Password managers 1Password and LastPass have built-in authentication apps, but there's also the Authy app . It's a quick and easy app to use and set up, works across multiple devices and platforms , allows users to create backups, and its website has a wealth of information on how to secure accounts using 2FA.
Some users claim that the benefits of moving away from Google Authenticator far outweigh the drawbacks. So, if someone uses Google Authenticator, they might want to take a look at some of the alternatives on offer and take all of the above information into consideration the next time they are about to switch smartphones.
