Why Do Companies Not Use Existing 2FA Standards?
Why Do Companies Not Use Existing 2FA Standards?
This is something I am seeing more and more of. As companies start to either offer or require 2FA for accounts, they don't follow the common standards or even offer any sort of options. One thing that drives me nuts is when they don't offer TOTP as an option. It seems like many companies either use text messages to send a code or use some built in method of authorizing a sign in from a mobile device app.
What are your thoughts on why they want to take the time to maintain this extra feature in an app when you could have just implemented a TOTP method that probably can be imported as an existing library with much less effort?
Are they assuming that people are too dumb to understand TOTP? Are they wanting phone numbers from people? Is it to force people to install their apps?
*edit: I also really want to know what not at least give people the option to choose something like TOTP. They can still offer mobile app verification, SMS, email, carrier pigeon, etc for other options but at least give the user a choice of something besides an insecure method like SMS.
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Some companies main users that they want to protect are customers who consider security to be having one shared password written on the noticeboard in the office. Sadly, sms is just an easier sell to a lot of users, and even getting them to do that can be a nightmare.
As for why proper TOTP isn't supported as well... the cynic in me gives you the answer "the auditor required we implement 2fa, we have implemented sms 2fa, now go implement shiny feature x instead of wasting time" is probably a common corporate response.