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Relying on texts to help protect your accounts is no longer a good idea

You really should be using two-step authentication, but it’s best to switch to apps dedicated to the task if you haven’t already.

IF YOU’RE LOOKING for a quick and effective way to improve your online security, two-factor authentication (2FA or two-step verification) is the first thing you should look at.

If you’re using it already, you’ve most of the way there, but if you’re using SMS to keep your accounts safe, it’s best you switch over to a dedicated authentication app instead.

The reason for this is because it’s easier than ever for someone to intercept your text messages and direct those messages to them instead of you (Wired goes through a number of situations where this has happened and it happens more often than you would think).

This is down to a flaw in SS7, a protocol used by phone networks to exchange the information needed for passing calls and texts between each other, and allows people from one network to roam on another. In short, it’s best to assume your normal calls and texts aren’t as secure as you would think.

Granted, whether you would be targeted or not really depends on a number of factors like how important you are, but like many things, you should treat this as a possibility. It likely a distant possibility but it’s a possibility all the same.

Encouragingly, more services are offering alternate ways to use 2FA but the best approach is to use a dedicated authentication app.

What an authentication app does is generate a one-time code every 30 seconds. It will continue to generate codes for you to log in even if your phone isn’t connected, ensuring you can log in regardless of the situation.

So what type of app should you use?

There are a few apps out there but a good place to start would be looking at Google Authenticator (iOS and Android) and Authy (iOS and Android). Google’s version is probably the easier of the two to set up but Authy is more robust and works across multiple devices.

Both apps will serve you well and how long it will take to set up will depend on how many accounts you have. You will have to scan a QR code (or enter in a key) for each one which may be time-consuming but it’s worth it.

Google Authenticator Google Authenticator / Google Play Google Authenticator / Google Play / Google Play

The only potential problem is not all apps allow you to log in using this method. Twitter is the most noticeable example of a site that only allows the SMS method but that should be changing soon.

It’s also worth mentioning that you should have a strong password too. While it’s useful, 2FA is not an excuse to continue using a weak password so change it if necessary.

Read: Seoul brings in traffic signs telling smartphone addicts to look up more often >

Read: Check out these amazing photos taken using aerial drone photography >

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5 Comments
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    Mute Larry David the 2nd
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    Jul 4th 2015, 5:41 PM

    Ok advertising works cos I am getting me one of those babies ASAP.

    432
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    Mute Red Marauder
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    Jul 4th 2015, 5:52 PM

    This must have every peeping Tom drooling!

    221
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    Mute dstaffx
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    Jul 4th 2015, 6:20 PM

    Can it see through curtains?

    123
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    Mute David Carino
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    Jul 4th 2015, 7:12 PM

    only shower curtains

    68
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    Mute Oliver
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    Jul 4th 2015, 5:43 PM

    I want it…

    108
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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Jul 4th 2015, 8:10 PM

    I went and checked and for some strange reason there is a shortage. Berminghams say 6 weeks wait and camera.ie have 10 on backorder and you have to pay full price €650 up front. Oh well.

    30
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    Mute cosmological
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    Jul 4th 2015, 5:48 PM

    Excellent, thank you Journal.

    94
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    Mute CW
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    Jul 4th 2015, 5:47 PM

    That’s crazy stuff, holy mother of Devine Julie’s Caesar’s àrses bloody banana….

    Must get me one of them.

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    Mute Pee Shank
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    Jul 4th 2015, 7:20 PM

    amazing

    1
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    Mute Tap Solny
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    Jul 4th 2015, 5:58 PM

    A Nikon D3200 or a Sony A58 would cost €450 including a 18-55mm kit lens. Either camera is far superior to the Nikon Coolpix p900. The D3200 is a DSLR, the the A58 is an SLT and the Coolpix is a bridge camera. The Coolpix is quite good up to 83x but it cannot be compared to a DSLR.

    32
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    Mute Pee Shank
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    Jul 4th 2015, 6:07 PM

    Wow

    1
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    Mute Joseph Siddall
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    Jul 4th 2015, 6:18 PM

    Tap, all very true but “Bridge” cameras sell very well for a reason. Most people see them them as being a very acceptable compromise answering all their needs in one piece of reasonably priced kit. Modern bridge cameras are really quite superb…within their operational parameters.

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    Mute Tap Solny
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    Jul 4th 2015, 6:32 PM

    Agreed Joseph. I have the Nikon Coolpix P900 and a Sony HX400v – both are superb bridge cameras. I also have a Sony A58 and a Sony A77ii – both are excellent DSLRs (SLTs).

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    Mute Maximus
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    Jul 4th 2015, 7:50 PM

    Very impressive, WoW!.

    23
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    Mute Paul Mc Nulty
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    Jul 4th 2015, 8:28 PM

    Tony and Joseph comparing their cox…

    22
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    Mute Gemma Shah
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    Jul 4th 2015, 9:31 PM

    My Uncle visited last week toting one of these. Totally in awe. Well worth the money I reckon.

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    Mute Kemberlee Shortland
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    Jul 5th 2015, 1:45 AM

    My Canon Powershot SX60 does the same shot of the moon, if not better.

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    Mute Eoin
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    Jul 5th 2015, 12:41 AM

    Paparazzi wet dream.

    4
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    Mute Ger Clifford
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    Jul 5th 2015, 12:05 AM

    So does my Canon 18x zoom SX600hs.

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    Mute Una Simms
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    Jul 5th 2015, 12:48 PM

    eh..I dunno…..I’d like the zoom to go a little closer….. This just doesn’t try hard enough…….. (awesome actually)

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    Mute cp
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    Jul 5th 2015, 10:35 AM

    Now that’s impressive! Definitely putting that on my wish list!!

    1
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