Purpose and features
The authenticator app allows the relevant browser extension to authenticate the user via scanning the QR code and generating one-time passwords. Such extensions are available in the browsers’ marketplaces and can be found with the “authenticator” keyword.
Principles of operation
Once the authentication app method is selected as the OTP method, the user is given a unique key on the system. This key is shown as a QR code so that the user can scan it with their mobile phone app or browser extension.
Given the scanning is done, the user’s key is input into a standard time-based algorithm. Then the algorithm returns a verification code. After the user enters the verification code into the field, the back end matches it with the same code on the generated, and the login proceeds.
The Applications for the Authentication
The browser extensions that offer time-based one-time password generation can be used for this procedure. They can be found by searching the browser marketplace with the keyword “authenticator”.
There are also available mobile applications that can be used for this purpose. The most notable ones are Google Authenticator, Authy, Microsoft Authenticator, and Last Pass.
Benefits
Using browser extension to generate OTP verification codes.
Ability to carry on with the OTP logins without the need to access a smartphone or email.
Faster and lightweight alternative to logins that require OTP verification codes.
Instructions
🔸 Go to System Administrator > Password Policy. Select Authenticator App.
🔸 Once the authenticator app is selected, the user logs in by entering their email and password.
🔸 Each new entry attempt prompts the modal below. The user has to calibrate with the authenticator app. To do so, they have to scan the QR code on the modal via a browser extension used for this purpose.
🔸 To scan the QR code, the user can facilitate the extension by clicking the scan icon as in the example below.
🔸 After the scan, the user is notified about the successful authentication. Later they have to use the code generated by the browser extension, as in the example below.
🔸 The user has to enter the code to the field in the modal to proceed.
🔸 From now on, the user can copy the verification code from the authenticator app and enter it in the field in the modal to proceed with login.
🔸 If any problem should occur in the match between the user and the authenticator information, it can be reset by a button in the edit user menu. Then the calibration must be done again by scanning the QR code in the login.
