Written by Craig Lurey
If you, or your organization, need access to high-value or sensitive accounts and records (like banks, emails, customer data, and more) you may be thinking about adding an extra layer of security to supplement usernames and passwords. Time-Based One-Time Password (TOTP) codes are a form of Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) that add an important second layer of security for logins. They work by prompting the user to provide a multi-digit verification code in order to be authenticated. The verification code is typically sent via an SMS text or a 3rd party authenticator app like Google Authenticator. The two-factor authentication code ensures that the person logging in is not being impersonated. The codes may look like this:
818 878
993 782
056 537
Because even the most frequently updated and strongest credentials can still be stolen in a data breach as highlighted all too often in the daily news. 2FA is a form of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and it is recommended as a best practice by the US National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) to reduce risk.
Please check out our video instructions below:
Well, no one wants to slow down or complicate logins, but it can be a necessity. Many users might avoid using them because of the potential hassle factor, but very often an organization will require them for IT security purposes.
The current TOTP two-factor code process is fraught with complexity:
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Pain Relief!
To address all of these two-factor code pain points and to promote the use of 2FA, Keeper has developed a fully-integrated security layer that adds two-factor codes directly in vault records. A Keeper user simply adds the two-factor code into the vault record field and then it will automatically be filled when logging in via the Web Vault or Browser Extension.
It’s simple to add the two-factor codes into a record via a scanned quick response (QR) code that is displayed during the setup process on the site. This code contains a “security key” which is used as a basis to generate the TOTP code for logins. It looks like this:
On mobile devices the user can take a camera shot of this code. On desktops, a screenshot of this code is clipped so it can be imported into Keeper. If the QR code is not available, the user can also sign up manually with the secret key code. This will add a two-factor code directly into a record stored securely in the Keeper vault, as seen below:
Once added to a record, a new two-factor code will be generated periodically and be available to fill the site when needed. There is no need to refer to another app or device and then scramble to type in the code while attempting to login. An example of how this looks on an iPhone can been seen below. Below See how the username, password, and two-factor code are all available when needed.
Since Keeper is a multi-platform solution, this same two-factor code will be available across multiple devices, including desktop, mobile, and from a variety of web browsers. And it’s all backed up in the Keeper vault, if the user needs to access a secured site from a new device once Keeper is installed the vault record with the two-factor will be there.
Since Keeper already supports sharing records the credentials can be shared easily with anyone who has Keeper. The shared record provides them the same two-factor codes for logging in anytime without needing someone to act as the “key master” to recite the code from their device in order for their associate to login.
The bottom line is that Keeper’s implementation of two-factor capability significantly improves the usability of a best-practice technology that substantially improves cybersecurity for the most important and sensitive accounts. It is possible to have great security and convenience!
For more guidance on how easy it is to set up two-factor codes in your Keeper records refer to our User Guide.
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