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LastPass launches mobile Authenticator app

LastPass Authenticator is a new mobile application by the makers of LastPass for Google Android, Microsoft Windows and Apple iOS devices to generate 2-factor authentication codes for the software and other programs.

2-Factor authentication is one option to improve the protection of accounts. It has been supported by LastPass for a while but relied mostly on third-party authentication applications and services such as Google Authenticator, YubiKey or Authy to power the functionality.

The release of LastPass Authenticator for Android, Windows Mobile and iOS changes that by introducing a first-party solution that free and premium users of the service can utilize to create 2-factor authentication codes to sign in to the service on the desktop, mobile devices or Web.

LastPass Authenticator

lastpass authenticator

Do the following to set up LastPass Authenticator as an option when it comes to the generation of 2-factor authentication codes.

  • Sign-in to your account on the LastPass website.
  • Click on the "account settings" link displayed on the left.
  • Switch to the "Multifactor Options" tab in the Account Settings overlay.
  • There you find LastPass Authenticator listed at the top. Click on the edit button on the right of it to start the activation process.
  • On the page that opens, switch the value of enabled to yes and click on the update button afterwards.

lastpass authenticator enable

  • You are prompted to enter the account's master password after hitting the update button. Enter it and click on continue afterwards.
  • On the page that follows, click on "enroll" to "enroll" the device with LastPass Authenticator.
  • You are redirected to a new page. Select "set up mobile app" on it.
  • You get options to download the authenticator application for Android, iOS or Windows Phone. If you have not done so click on the button leading to your phone's main store to download and install the app. Click on next afterwards.
  • A QR code is displayed on the next page that you need to scan using the installed LastPass Authenticator application.
  • Add a phone number in the next step for backup purposes. This is used when the primary means of generating the code is not available or fails.
  • Last but not least, click on "activate" to activate two-factor authentication for the account.

You can check out the help desk article on the LastPass website for additional information about the process.

The authenticator app provides you with the means to approve or deny a log in request with a tap on buttons in the application which means that you don't have to type the code for that.

The authenticator application is as basic as it gets currently. There is for instance no option to protect access using a PIN or password, something that apps like Authy support to improve security.

LastPass Authenticator is compatible with all services supporting Google Authenticator including WordPress, Dropbox, or Facebook among others.

Now You: Do you use 2-factor authentication when available?

 

This article was first seen on ComTek's "TekBits" Technology News

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