Either by sending a code to SMS or Email, you are able to sign into your account without ever needing to or being able to add a password. Why has this become a thing recently?

    • dbx12@programming.dev
      18·
      2 days ago

      Time based one time passwords. Those (usually) six digit codes which get replaced every 30 seconds or so. During setup you copied the secret to your device (usually smartphone) and now your device and the server you authenticate at can calculate the same secret code every thirty seconds.

      • AA5B@lemmy.world
        2·
        2 days ago

        Which reminds me: I just got a new phone and totally forgot about Authenticator apps

        I was able to recover one but the other is lost and I still need to get those accounts reset

        • dbx12@programming.dev
          3·
          1 day ago

          Adding a shameless plug here: Aegis is available on f-droid and allows you to backup your 2FA secrets on your own server (e.g. own nextcloud) in case you don’t trust the default Google authenticator.