OTP Authenticator

Jan 1, 0001

Definition

An OTP (One-Time Password) Authenticator is a security mechanism used to generate a temporary, single-use password that is valid for only one login session or transaction. It enhances security by requiring users to provide a time-sensitive code, typically generated by an app or hardware token, in addition to their regular password. This method is commonly used in two-factor authentication (2FA) systems to protect against unauthorized access.

Secure Settings Example

# Example configuration for a secure OTP authenticator setup
otp_authenticator:
  algorithm: "SHA-256"  # Use a strong hashing algorithm
  digits: 6             # Length of the OTP
  period: 30            # Time period for OTP validity in seconds
  issuer: "SecureApp"   # Issuer name for easy identification
  secret_length: 32     # Length of the secret key
  require_ssl: true     # Ensure SSL is used for all communications

Insecure Settings Example

# Example of insecure OTP authenticator configuration
otp_authenticator:
  algorithm: "MD5"      # Weak hashing algorithm
  digits: 4             # Short OTP length, easier to guess
  period: 60            # Longer validity period increases risk
  issuer: ""            # Missing issuer name
  secret_length: 16     # Short secret key length
  require_ssl: false    # SSL not enforced, vulnerable to interception