Which One is Better, Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator? (2024)

FAQs

Which One is Better, Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator? ›

What Are The Differences? Microsoft Authenticator can support one account on multiple devices while Google Authenticator doesn't. Microsoft Authenticator has a feature that lets you hide the code useful to protect your account.

Google Authenticator vs Microsoft Authenticator

Only Microsoft Authenticator supports backup and restore features. Google Authenticator doesn't require a password to access the app, decreasing its security. Google Authenticator is easier to use than Microsoft Authenticator.

Is Google Authenticator safe? Google Authenticator is considered to be a safe app. However, two-factor authentication is not a panacea for all security ills, and Google Authenticator should also be used while keeping its limitations in mind .

Conclusion. Google Authenticator and Authy are both reliable authenticator apps. People looking for a simple and easy-to-use app should get Google Authenticator. The same goes for users who want a higher security level in the two-factor authentication process.

1. Biometric Authentication Methods. Biometric authentication relies on the unique biological traits of a user in order to verify their identity. This makes biometrics one of the most secure authentication methods as of today.

Google Authenticator doesn't display icons for websites, nor does it offer online backups, but it's one of few apps that provides a secure, offline method for moving tokens from one device to another. This is helpful if you get a new phone, but it can also function as a manual backup if you own a second device.

Your app being outdated may very well be the reason Google Authenticator crashed (and this is why updates are so important). A quick update will clarify if this is really the case. How do you check whether your Google Authenticator app is up-to-date? On your Android device, go to the Google Play Store app.

With the biometric lock enabled, the user has to scan their fingerprint or face before they can see the passcode. This extra 2FA security step can thwart malicious actors who stole or got remote access to the phone. This makes enabling a biometric lock an essential 2FA security best practice.

Microsoft describes their Authenticator as “More secure. Passwords can be forgotten, stolen, or compromised. With Authenticator, your phone provides an extra layer of security on top of your PIN or fingerprint.”

What are the disadvantages of Windows authentication? ›

Disadvantages of Windows authentication

DBAs do not have control over the AD logins and groups. The AD group membership is not known to the DBA. You do not get a notification if a user is added or removed from the AD groups.

The QR code exported by Google Authenticator should be valid forever and can be imported as many times as you wish because it uses TOTP technology.

Google Authenticator is a mobile security application based on two-factor authentication (2FA) that helps to verify user identities before granting them access to websites and services. Two-factor authentication makes it less likely that an intruder can masquerade as an authorized user.

The Microsoft Authenticator app helps you sign in to your accounts when you're using two-step verification. Two-step verification helps you to use your accounts more securely because passwords can be forgotten, stolen, or compromised.

Strong authentication is thought to be true two-factor authentication or multi-factor authentication (2FA, MFA). Such systems, in requiring two or more factors from the "something I have, something I am, and something I know), require those factors to be a combination of different authentication factors.

A physical authentication key is one of the strongest ways to implement multifactor authentication. A private key, stored on a physical device, is used to authenticate a user, such as a USB device that a user plugs into their computer while logging in.

The Inherence Factor is often said to be the strongest of all authentication factors. The Inherence Factor asks the user to confirm their identity by presenting evidence inherent to their unique features.

If you have non-Microsoft accounts, such as for Google, Facebook, or GitHub, you can add them to the Microsoft Authenticator app for two-step verification.

What is the rate limit for Google Authenticator? ›

The rate limit must be between 1 and 10 attempts. The rate time must be between 15 and 600 seconds.

Password-based authentication

Passwords are the most common methods of authentication. Passwords can be in the form of a string of letters, numbers, or special characters. To protect yourself you need to create strong passwords that include a combination of all possible options.

Google Authenticator app: How does it work

Usually 2FA security codes are sent to the user's phone via SMS, but this also carries a security risk. Hackers can sometimes engineer an attack on your phone company and thus compromise SMS-based one-time-passwords (OTPs).

You can erase your Android device remotely using the Google lost phone protocol. But for this to work, your lost Android device must be turned on, signed into a Google Account, and connected to the internet. The device must also have location finding and “Find My Device” turned on.

Check if push notifications are turned on for the device. On an Android device, tap Settings > Notifications > App settings and make sure Authenticator is turned on. If you get an expired notification, make sure the device's Date & time are correct.

Tech-savvy attackers can even bypass two-factor authentication without knowing the victim's login credentials. Man-in-the-middle (MiTM) attacks describe the phenomenon of a third party, also known as a man-in-the-middle, intercepting the communication between two systems.

However, security experts have demonstrated an automated phishing attack that can cut through that added layer of security—also called 2FA—potentially tricking unsuspecting users into sharing their private credentials.

Bypassing 2FA with Session Cookie or Man-in-the-middle

The session cookie stays in the browser until the user logs out, and closing the window doesn't log the user out. So, an attacker can use the cookie to his advantage. Once the hacker acquires the session cookie, he can bypass the two-factor authentication.

Authenticator App (More Secure)

The primary reason being, it's more difficult for a hacker to gain physical access to your phone and generate a code without you knowing about it. Keep in mind, your phone or device you have the authenticator app installed on should be protected with a secure password.

Using your opened camera, scan the QR Code displayed on the computer screen. The Microsoft Authenticator will scan it and automatically add the account to the app.

Is Microsoft authenticator better than a password? ›

An authenticator app provides an additional layer of security that is more than just a username and password. Authentication is the process a user goes through to validate who they are by way of logging basic identification details such as an email address or username followed by a password.

Modern authentication uses access tokens and refresh tokens to grant user access to Microsoft 365 resources using Azure Active Directory. An access token is a JSON Web Token provided after a successful authentication and is valid for 1 hour.

Microsoft recommends passwordless authentication methods such as Windows Hello, FIDO2 security keys, and the Microsoft Authenticator app because they provide the most secure sign-in experience.

Windows authentication (formerly named NTLM, and also referred to as Windows NT Challenge/Response authentication) is a secure form of authentication because the user name and password are hashed before being sent across the network.

The Google Authenticator app is more secure because it doesn't require an internet connection to receive the code assigned to your account, something you can't do if you have to receive it via SMS.

We are excited to announce an update to Google Authenticator, across both iOS and Android, which adds the ability to safely backup your one-time codes (also known as one-time passwords or OTPs) to your Google Account. Across all of your online accounts, signing in is the front door to your personal information.

If you set up 2-Step Verification, you can use the Google Authenticator app to generate codes. You can still generate codes without internet connection or mobile service. Learn more about 2-Step Verification.

The secret key is like a secondary password shared between the authenticator app on your device and your Knowledge Hub account. If you have multiple devices, they must all share the same secret key. If you feel that the secret key has been compromised, you should regenerate and save a new secret key.

Keep your Google Authenticator codes synchronized across all your devices. Google Authenticator 6.0 on Android and 4.0 on iOS introduces the option to keep all your verification codes synchronized across all your devices, simply by signing into your Google Account.

Does Microsoft Authenticator monitor your phone? ›

Does the Microsoft Authenticator track me? The Microsoft authenticator does not track you and it does not log location data. It will list your logins to MCC-protected resources as a method for you to recognize unauthorized access attempts.

The Internet connection is required to send the verification code to the device requesting the logon. Without an internet connection, the Microsoft authenticator app will still generate a verification code, but it won't be able to send the verification code to the device requesting the logon.

If you have access to an alternative email address or phone number that is associated with your Microsoft account, use that to receive a verification code and reset your password. 3. If you're unable to reset your password, you may need to create a new Microsoft account and transfer your data to the new account.

Authenticator apps are not only faster and more reliable than SMS 2FA, they also enforce an additional layer of security, such as a passcode, a password or biometrics (i.e. fingerprint).

Are Password Managers Safe? Simply put, yes: Password managers are a safe option for storing your passwords and other sensitive data. While saving a password within a browser might leave you vulnerable, a standalone app like Microsoft Authenticator uses two-factor authentication to keep your information safe.

An authenticator app helps you to improve your online security by adding two-factor logins to any accounts you connect to the authenticator. This makes it harder for hackers to access your accounts, so we highly recommend using an authenticator app and two-factor authentication.

Explanation: Passwords are considered to be the weakest form of the authentication mechanism because these password strings can...

Explanation. The correct answer is passwords. Passwords are considered the weakest form of protection with Type 1 authentication, passwords are poor security mechanisms for several reasons i.e., commonly written or guessed.

What Are The Differences? Microsoft Authenticator can support one account on multiple devices while Google Authenticator doesn't. Microsoft Authenticator has a feature that lets you hide the code useful to protect your account.

If you have non-Microsoft accounts, such as for Google, Facebook, or GitHub, you can add them to the Microsoft Authenticator app for two-step verification. The Authenticator app works with any app that uses two-step verification and any account that supports the Time-based One-time Password (TOTP) standards.

Is Microsoft Authenticator app more secure? ›

Its improved security by adding of second layer of authentication. It is convenience to store passwords and also support multiple devices from PC and mobile phone devices. Limited support for non-Microsoft services.

Microsoft Authenticator

Approve sign-ins from a mobile app using push notifications, biometrics, or one-time passcodes. Augment or replace passwords with two-step verification and boost the security of your accounts from your mobile device.

Microsoft Authenticator can generate, store, and apply passwords at websites via an autofill feature. Beyond supporting iOS, iPadOS, and Android devices, the autofill option works in the desktop flavors of Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge via an extension.

The Microsoft Authenticator app helps you sign in to your accounts when you're using two-step verification. Two-step verification helps you to use your accounts more securely because passwords can be forgotten, stolen, or compromised.

The secret key is like a secondary password shared between the authenticator app on your device and your Knowledge Hub account. If you have multiple devices, they must all share the same secret key.

One popular app that can be used for this is Google Authenticator. Here's how to set up Google Authenticator for Office 365 and secure your account. 1. Visit https://login.microsoftonline.com and login with your company email address and current Office 365 password.

I wanted a better solution than relying on one device. That's when I found out you can have Google Authenticator on multiple devices so long as you scan the same code with each device!

Biometrics Authentication

If there's one thing that you always have with you, it's your body. Biometric scans are a common authentication method in large companies. Your fingerprint, face pattern, hand geometry, and eyes are all unique to you and stealing them is almost impossible.

Does the Microsoft Authenticator track me? The Microsoft authenticator does not track you and it does not log location data. It will list your logins to MCC-protected resources as a method for you to recognize unauthorized access attempts.

If you have access to an alternative email address or phone number that is associated with your Microsoft account, use that to receive a verification code and reset your password. 3. If you're unable to reset your password, you may need to create a new Microsoft account and transfer your data to the new account.