Hi there, to follow up on my blog post on what is multifactor authentication, today I will quickly explain what is an authenticator app
Basically, it goes hands in hands with the 2fa login mechanism that the online service is using. The authenticator app usually provides a security number on your phone that you then need to enter the online service to finish the authentication process.
The more scientific description from Wikipedia is:
An authenticator is the means used to confirm the identity of a user,[1][2] that is, to perform digital authentication. A person authenticates to a computer system or application by demonstrating that he or she has possession and control of an authenticator.[3][4] In the simplest case, the authenticator is a common password.
There is a popular authenticator that exists.
Authy
Google authenticator
Last Pass authenticator.
We highly suggest Authy or Last Pass as they are also providing a backup in case you lost your phone.
So that’s it, not more complicated than that.
