I've been researching the evolution of two-factor authentication (2FA), and it's pretty wild how far we’ve come—from SMS-based codes to biometric tokens. It seems like the security landscape is changing faster than ever. I’m curious though, when did SMS 2FA start losing favor? And why are we seeing such a big push toward more advanced methods like biometrics or time-based one-time passwords (TOTP)? Is it just because of convenience, or are there deeper security reasons? It feels like most of the apps I use these days are pushing for TOTP or biometrics over SMS.
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You’re right, the shift away from SMS 2FA has been quite noticeable, and it’s primarily due to security concerns. SMS-based codes can be intercepted through methods like SIM-swapping, where hackers essentially take control of your phone number. This makes SMS less reliable, especially when compared to modern alternatives like TOTP generators. A totp generator uses algorithms to create time-based one-time passwords that expire every 30 seconds, significantly reducing the risk of someone intercepting your code.
In terms of why companies are pushing for this shift, it’s largely about enhancing security without sacrificing too much convenience. TOTP tokens provide strong protection without the risk of interception. Biometric tokens, on the other hand, are even harder to compromise because they rely on unique biological data, like fingerprints or facial recognition. This evolution in 2FA technology is definitely driven by the need for better security, as online threats are becoming more sophisticated. But it’s also about user experience—people want something that’s easy to use, and biometric tokens are incredibly user-friendly.