New 2FA app for more security: version 5.5.0 now available!

New 2FA app for more security: version 5.5.0 now available!

Security on the Internet plays an increasingly important role, and this does not only apply to large companies. More and more people know that two-factor authentication (2FA) is an excellent means of securing their digital accounts. The current development in this area is the new version 5.5.0 of the 2FAS Auth app, which offers a variety of improvements for Android and iOS users. The app enables so-called one-time passwords (OTP) to generate, which are requested in addition to the password when registering and thus increase protection against unauthorized access. As reported stadt-bremerhaven.de, the user interface has been revised and now also supports the landscape display on tablets.

In addition, the update contains improved support for the 16 kb page size, updates of the translations into different languages and new icons that better match the current Android design. The developers are also in the process of integrating a password manager, but is still in the works. All of this offers an attractive reason to deal with the app.

New features and advantages of the 2FA apps

Another remarkable product in the world of two-factor authentication is the Aegis app. This open source app is also free of charge and focuses on flexibility and security. Compared to other 2FA tools, it offers a variety of authentication algorithms beyond the common SHA1 and enables cloud backups and the export of data files. One of the outstanding properties is that the app works completely offline and only requires a few authorizations, which reinforces the user in his data protection decision. According to Getaegis.App, entering the pin or biometric data is automatically required when the app is blocked, which offers an additional safety step.

Another plus is that the Aegis app enables it to manage personal keys without having to transfer data to the cloud. This means that when changing the device, no SIM card or telephone number is required, which makes it significantly easier to switch to a new device. In addition, the app works with several websites and servers, which underlines its versatility.

why 2fa is important

But why is two-factor authentication so important? This is also confirmed by the Federal Office for Information Technology (BSI), which emphasizes that many online service providers 2FA use as an additional means of user identification. The authentication usually takes place in two steps: First, the user entered his password, followed by a further confirmation that can be done by a second factor - be it a code that is sent to a mobile device, or a biometric identification, such as a fingerprint. The [BSI] (https://www.bsi.bund.de/de/ consciousness-und-ververuser/informations-und-fezmen/cyber-sicherheitsfehlungen/accountschutz/zwei-fakthentisation/zwei-fakthentisation_node.html) emphasizes that the use of several factors from different categories, such as knowledge (Password, PIN), possession (chip card, TAN generator) and biometry (fingerprint), the security significantly improved.

Practice shows that 2FA is particularly important to avoid identity theft and data loss. However, there are also some challenges, such as the extended registration period or the loss of a factor based on possession, which can make access to a service difficult. Therefore, experts recommend that several “second factors” be deposited in order to have control over your own online accounts at any time.