Microsoft Authenticator: How the app works

Microsoft Authenticator for secure login

To access your email account, your Facebook account or other registrations, you normally use your email address or your username and a password.

Since passwords can be easily hacked, you should protect your accounts better, especially when it comes to sensitive data.
Two-factor authentication offers an additional level of security for logins. With the Microsoft Autenticator App you can set it up very easily and use it for most services.
In order to use the Microsoft Authenticator for third-party services, these must use the so-called TOTP procedure.
This means that a unique password is generated that can be used for a limited time. In contrast, there is the HOTP standard. The password is time-independent here. It is valid until it is used.
To use two-factor authentication, download the Microsoft Authenticator app for iOS, Android or Windows on your smartphone.
If you want to add a new account to the app, tap the plus sign on your smartphone and scan the QR code that the provider shows on the screen when setting up two-factor authentication.
If no QR code is displayed, select the "Enter code manually" option in the app. Then enter your username and password for the service and then the code that will be sent to you by SMS.
If you would like to log in to this service in the future, the app always generates a new code, which you must then also enter.

If you use the Microsoft Authenticator app to log in to your Microsoft account, you will no longer have to type in a password in the future.

This entry is omitted if you use the app. When you sign in to a service using your Microsoft account, only a notification appears on your smartphone that you have to confirm.
To protect against misuse of this simple method, you can only confirm the notification if your smartphone has been unlocked.

Microsoft is not the only provider of authenticator apps. In our next practical tip, read how to set up the Google Authenticator.