When it comes to taking care of the security and privacy of our applications, services and online platforms, we have several ways. In addition to the usual passwords, we can also activate the two-factor protection that we have at our disposal on many occasions. For this we can use different applications as it happens with Microsoft Authenticator.
This is a security-focused verification system that allows us to add a new layer of preventing attackers from hacking into our accounts and platforms. In this way and through the path that we configure, we establish a second level of security that we can configure through certain authentication applications.
Microsoft itself offers us its own, an app that keeps improving over time in order to protect ourselves and get the most out of this type of software. In these lines we focus on the improvements that the software giant is introducing in its application of this type, Microsoft Authenticator. The first one is based on the fact that the delivery of authentication codes can be carried out through the Meta WhatsApp application.
This arrival will replace the usual text or SMS message that is usually used in these circumstances. In addition, the Microsoft app itself will attempt to limit notifications from your Authenticator to us if they come from suspicious sources.
Starting from the base of here we refer to the official two-factor authentication application of the software giant, the users who benefit from its functions are spread all over the world. In addition, we must bear in mind that it is compatible with the authentication systems of both the company itself and third parties. We can use it on mobile devices based on Android or iOS.
Microsoft Authenticator will use WhatsApp
One of the main objectives of these authentication systems, as we told you before, is to provide us with a new level of security. Instead of allowing users to log in with just a username and password, they are required to provide a code as a second factor of authentication.
The one from Microsoft shows a notification to the user by default that contains a confirmation message. Once the user has given the go-ahead, the login operation is completed and access to the relevant platform is granted. Hence, the WhatsApp account will soon be able to be used to receive these messages.
It should be noted that this is an app that also supports passwordless login, something that Microsoft introduced some time ago. Even with passwordless sign-in enabled, Microsoft Authenticator can show us notifications. Although those who have enabled passwordless login can easily detect misuse, there is still the possibility of accepting a login that fools us.
Hence precisely another of the improvements that come to the application is that it tries to block notifications from sources that Microsoft has identified as unreliable. This should limit these types of notifications, but there is also a chance that a legitimate one could be blocked by mistake. To solve this case, Microsoft Authenticator will show us the login request when we access the application.
It is worth mentioning that these new features will gradually reach users of the Android and iOS app. At first it is being tested in certain countries, but it is expected that it will reach the whole world in the coming months.
