How do you backup 2FA setup codes/QR codes?
How do you backup 2FA setup codes/QR codes?
After everything that has happened with Raivo over the last few days it’s reminded me that I need to go through my accounts with 2FA enabled.
However, how do others keep things organised? My main 2FA app is Proton Pass but I’ll be adding Ente Auth as a backup alongside my Yubikey. In the past I saved a copy of the QR codes when setting up 2FA but I’d occasionally forget to save new ones.
Does anyone have a good system for saving either the QR code or setup code (not actually sure what it’s called) for future use?
EDIT: the code I’m referring to is the initial secret code used to setup the 2FA
Final Edit: I’ve settled on saving the QR codes into a folder that is setup as a git repo.
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I save them in my keepassxc, actually I save the 2fA also there. Once someone gets to my password manager all bets are off.
Sounds like 1FA with extra steps.
Not a security scientist, but in my interpretation, it's the "categories" of the factors that matter. Ideally, you use some two of three of:
- something (only) you know - generally represented by passwords
- something (only) you have - most commonly represented by some device. you prove that you have the device by providing a token only that device can generate.
- something (only) you are - generally represented by biometrics
the goal then is maintaining the "only"s.
if you tell someone your password, or they see you type it in, or they beat it out of you with a wrench, it's no longer something "only" you know, and it is compromised.
if you use the same password on two websites, and one website is compromised, the password is compromised.
OTPs from a key fob or yubikey or something are similarly compromised if the device that provides them is left out in public/lost/stolen/beaten out of you with a wrench.
biometrics are again, are compromised if it's not "only" you with access to them - someone scans you face while you're asleep, or smashes your finger off with their wrench.
having multiple factors in the same category, like having two passwords, or two otp tokens, or two finger prints, doesn't significantly improve security. if you give up one thing you remember, it's likely you'll give up more. if one fob from your keychain is stolen, the second fob on that keychain is of no additional help.
you can start shifting what categories these things represent though.
if you write down your password in a notebook or a spreadsheet, they become thing you have.
OTPs can become something you know if you remember the secret used to generate them.
knowing many different things is hard, so you can put them in a password vault. the password vault is then something you have, which can be protected by something you know. so although your OTPs and passwords are in one place, you still require two factors to get access to them.
you still need to protect your "only"s though. and don't put yourself in situations where people with wrenches want your secrets.
Thank you for the detailed response!
Yeah I agree. I wonder how people make it real 2FA when the 2FA app is on the phone and they also log in in the phone.
My phone has a passcode, so does my password manager and my MFA app - all different passwords. Those are the only ones I need to remember, so it’s not too bad.
Probably not ideal, but to break that someone needs to A) physically get my phone, B) unlock my phone, C) unlock my pw vault, and D) unlock my MFA app. I’m fairly confident in my setup.
For me it's similar, but I don't have D.