Proton has announced the release of Proton Authenticator, its free two-factor authentication app. The app is available across all major device platforms including iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux.
The increasing menace of account takeover attacks costs people and businesses tens of billions of dollars(new window) every year. Unlike other kinds of cyber threats, this one is relatively simple to prevent — just enable 2FA on your accounts.
With 2FA, you’ll enter a second piece of information in addition to your password when logging in to an account. Typically that info is a six-digit code generated by your authenticator app. Even if someone has your password, they can’t gain access to your account. While SMS authentication codes are another common option, this leaves you vulnerable to sim swapping attacks. An authenticator app is much more difficult for hackers to crack because it generates codes locally on your device, and each code expires after 30 seconds.
Proton’s open-source app generate time-limited one-time passcodes to provide an additional layer of security over traditional login credentials. Proton Authenticator also offers end-to-end encrypted backup and cross-device sync without ads or tracking.
“Two-factor authentication is necessary for everyone – not just those who care about their privacy,” said Eamonn Maguire, head of account security at Proton. “We believe strong security should never come at the cost of your convenience or privacy. That’s why we’ve developed Proton Authenticator: to give users peace of mind that their 2FA codes are available wherever they need them, without relying on Google or Microsoft.”
Proton Authenticator is available for download from the Proton website, as well as the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store.