A security breach exposed two-factor authentication (2FA) codes/password reset links for millions of users on platforms like Facebook, Google, and TikTok.
Key Points:
- YX International, an SMS routing company, left an internal database exposed online without a password.
- The database contained one-time 2FA codes and password reset links for various tech giants.
- YX International secured the database and claims to have “sealed the vulnerability.”
- The company wouldn’t confirm how long the database was exposed or if anyone else accessed it.
- Representatives from Meta, Google, and TikTok haven’t commented yet.
Concerns:
- This leak highlights the vulnerabilities of SMS-based 2FA compared to app-based methods.
- The lack of information regarding the leak’s duration and potential access by others raises concerns.
Gemini Recommendations:
- Consider switching to app-based 2FA for increased security.
- Be cautious of suspicious communications and avoid clicking unknown links.
- Stay informed about potential security breaches affecting your online accounts.
It’s infuriating that my bank still uses SMS 2FA.
Mine uses SMS 2FA AND had a 16-character password limit. I need to switch banks already. Any suggestions for a decent bank or credit union that uses modern password cryptography and app-based TOTP?
SMS 2FA is dumb, but I thought 16 characters are okay right now. Does the bank have too many password mistakes will block you for a certain time period enabled?
They’re good as long as there aren’t any limits on characters you can use.
Some people like to use passphrases. But honestly, the gold standard is a password manager with randomized strings.
Well Capital One still uses SMS 2FA … BUT if you’re going to be using budget apps they allow OAuth which was the big selling point for me (i.e. not giving my bank account password to a third party)
What if you don’t have an Android or Apple smartphone, or refuse to get one on privacy concerns?
I know SMS isn’t very secure, but how is one supposed to use 2FA if they can’t, or won’t, accept spyware to do so?
You can use TOTP 2FA on a browser too, there’s plugins for it. It’s not some super secret algorithm, smartphone apps are just the most common way of handling it. I suppose there’s progress to be made in terms of accessibility and education for the general public in terms of options for TOTP.
TOTP isn’t offered by most of my financial sites, or Apple. It’s annoying.
That’s because Apple, as they love to do, decided to make their own special version of 2fa within their little garden.
Y’know, instead of going with the accepted totp method.
A lot of services now accept physical security keys for logging in. These keys use FIDO similar to how a phone-based passkey works. You just plug the dude in and then you are good to go.
Obviously not every company works with these just yet, but a lot of major companies do. Honestly most of the big tech companies support them.
GitHub and Bitwarden are the two I’m immediately thinking of, but that’s likely because I just used my passkey for those lol.
It’s way more secure than SMS MFA, and I prefer it to a phone app because I don’t have to look at then enter a code while hoping the time doesn’t run out for that code, forcing me to wait for a new one.
That’s fine if you don’t want to use a smartphone, but SMS should not be the only option available. They should provide multiple options for 2FA so customers can choose what they are comfortable with.
It’s a circus out there…
One of my financial institutions supports yubikeys, but does not have the option to turn off sms 2fa. A chain is as strong as the weakest link, as usual.
Another only has sms 2fa and bizarrely allows me to specify any phone number at login time to receive the code. WTF?
Most only have 2fa via sms. When you talk about using an authenticator app people bitch and moan because they have to cut and paste those digits into the login page. Oh, the humanity…
Don’t even get me started on sites with “roll your own” schemes, like forcing you to install their app (which requires all permissions under the sun) just to accept a push message and allow you to login on their website.