An HMAC counts the number of times a code is requested and uses that to calculate the code. Because TOTP changes so frequently, it’s the most secure type of OTP.Ī Hash-Based One-Time Password (HOTP) works similarly, except it uses a different factor to calculate the code – in this case, a Hash-Based Message Authentication Code (HMAC). The factor changes as time passes, meaning that a new code is generated every 30 to 60 seconds. TOTP, as we’ve established, is a type of OTP that uses time as a factor in calculating the code. These verification codes can be generated in a variety of ways, some of which can be more secure than others. The difference between OTP, TOTP and HOTP is the type of factor used to calculate the resulting password code.Ī One-Time Password (OTP) is an umbrella term referring to any kind of one-use code used for authentication. This is because emails and texts are not encrypted and can be easily intercepted by cybercriminals. The fact that the code changes so frequently provides an additional layer of security.Ĭompared to a traditional verification code, usually sent by email or text, TOTP is much more secure. The code cannot be intercepted as long as the algorithm remains a secret. Because of this, the codes don’t need to be communicated between the parties. What makes TOTP one of the most secure forms of MFA is that the codes are independently calculated by the two parties. If you don’t use MFA on your accounts, cybercriminals can easily log in with stolen credentials and access your confidential data. Passwords are frequently compromised in mass data breaches and other cyber attacks. If someone obtains a password and tries to log into an account that has MFA enabled, they won’t be able to gain access without the second authentication method. MFA is recommended for all accounts and operates as an additional layer of security for your password. TOTP is one of the most secure and convenient forms of multi-factor authentication. Be sure to enter the code before the time is up and the code changes (usually every 30 to 60 seconds). You’re all set up! Whenever you log in and the server requests a code for authentication, consult your authenticator tool to find the displayed code. Whatever app you’re using will have a way to scan the QR code, most likely using either your phone camera or a screenshot function. Scan the QR code with your authenticator tool. If TOTP codes are an MFA option for your account, you will see a setting to request a QR code. Log into your account and find the security settings. Request a secret algorithm from your account. We recommend using a password manager to generate your TOTP codes because it streamlines the login process and doesn’t require you to use multiple devices just to log into your account. How To Use TOTPĬhoose your authenticator tool. If the codes match, the user is verified and granted access. The server will compare the code it calculated to the user’s code. When a user logs in, they enter the current code displayed on their authenticator tool. Once it’s set up, the algorithm runs simultaneously on both the server and the user’s authenticator tool, producing the same exact six-digit codes at the same exact time. Because the authenticator tool now has the secret algorithm, it calculates the same exact six-digit codes that the server does. The user will scan the QR code with an authenticator tool, which can be a dedicated phone app or a feature of a password manager. The server keeps the secret and uses it to generate the TOTP codes. This allows the algorithm to produce a new, unique code every 30 to 60 seconds.Įach time a user initiates the creation of a new TOTP for an account, the account servers will generate a unique, secret algorithm, usually displayed as a QR code. The algorithm, which is unique for each instance, uses the current time as a factor. TOTP hinges on a secret algorithm that generates codes. Strengthen your organisation with zero-trust security and policiesĪchieve industry compliance and audit reporting including SOX and FedRAMPĪutomate credential rotation to drastically reduce the risk of credential-based attacks Restrict secure access to authorised users with RBAC and policies Initiate secure remote access with RDP, SSH and other common protocols Manage and protect SSH keys and digital certificates across your tech stack Privileged Session ManagementSecurely manage applications and services for users, teams and nodes.Protect critical infrastructure, CI/CD pipelines and eliminate secret sprawlĪchieve visibility, control and security across the entire organisation Password SharingSecurely share passwords and sensitive information with users and teamsĮnable passwordless authentication for fast, secure access to applications.Seamlessly and quickly strengthen SAML-compliant IdPs, AD and LDAP Protect and manage your organisation's passwords, metadata and files
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