Free-to-use authentication utility app
Duo Mobile is a free security application for mobile devices from developer Duo Security LLC. It is a tool that can be used for two-factor authentication protocols for various apps and online services. It boasts a clean and simple user interface and one-tap operation that beginners can learn right away.
Similar to Twilio Authy 2-Factor Authentication or Sophos Authenticator, Duo Mobile supports virtually all kinds of applications and services available on the market today that rely on passcodes for security. It also employs an additional verification step to ensure user identity when they log into their accounts from other devices.
Safe logins
Nowadays, it’s not uncommon for someone to have multiple accounts online for every platform or service. It can be hard to manage and keep track of every login you make. Not to mention, the security concerns that arise if you access an account from a public device. It’s the reason why two-factor authentication became popular, and Duo Mobile is an app that can help facilitate it.
To get started, enable two-factor authentication on your preferred app or online service, which usually involves scanning a QR code. Open the app and choose the Add Account option to scan it. Once recognized, you can then set a name for that account to make it easier to manage and remember. Click next, and it will generate a passcode for the next step.
Input this passcode on the app or service in question to complete the process and register your account. The next time you log in, simply refer to this app to get your code. One point of concern, though, is that the push notification suffers frequent delays, which can be a pain at times given the short window that applications give to input numbers and letters needed for verification.
Simple yet not so quick
The idea behind Duo Mobile is simple, make two-factor authentication easy and seamless for account logins, and it does a good job at it. It’s intuitive to use and registering an app is a hassle-free experience. However, the push notification of passcodes often gets delayed and defeats the purpose somewhat. Nevertheless, this one is worth trying out and should be a must-have for most users.
