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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
I’ve got some older unopened v4 Yubikeys that work let me have when they upgraded to v5. I’ve been meaning to try them out. Problem is there’s no backup. If you lose or break the thing, you’re screwed if you didn’t have some alternative 2FA set up.
I programmed 3 of them for my Bitwarden login. One stays on my keys and the other two are in my desk at home and the fire safe. Could go as far as sticking one in a safe deposit box.
Any time TOTP is an option, that goes into Bitwarden. Done.
Now passkeys are becoming a thing and those will also go into Bitwarden, personally.
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.
It’s a great recommendation to use app-based 2FA, except that lots of services seem to insist on and only offer SMS OTP.
For instance out of all the financial establishments I do business with, only one offers the option. The big name players don’t, it’s only some tiny little mom & pop CU that does.
It’s very much a business adoption issue.
App-based is also unacceptable if it’s a proprietary implementation
TOTP/HOTP are the best standards right now
Have you ever used HOTP before? Convenience-wise, it’s much worse than TOTP. It’s not supported by popular apps, you can’t use it on several devices unless there’s synchronization, you never know if the code you’re looking at was used already.
Yeah, it’s much less convenient. I prefer TOTP, but I will pick HOTP over Cisco Duo’s proprietary implementation that I can’t use without their specific app if those are my only options
I like a combo of Yubikey and Bitwarden, personally.
Not sure if you do business with them, but Charles Schwab does have a app-based MFA option - although that’s limited to Symantec’s own TOTP MFA.
A lot of sites say they only support one specific MFA app. But in my experience, any MFA app that can read the QR code will work.
Oh boy! Can’t wait to get another year of credit monitoring! /s
Aegis Authenticator, in case someone was wondering what to use
I’m not that tech savy, so I was under the impression sms 2FA was the best way to go - why is app based authentication better?
I’m partial to AndOTP myself.
I still use Authy, I know it’s frowned upon in the privacy community but it’s worked well enough for me so far. With them shutting down their desktop app though I see no reason not to switch to Aegis at some point in the near future. Just a pain in the backside setting it all up again as Authy doesn’t let you export your 2FA.
If you have a rooted phone, Aegis can import from several other apps, including Authy, automatically.
But don’t try to root your unrooted phone to unlock that capability. Rooting requires wiping the device, so you lose your data in the process.
But authy can backup your codes, so nothing will be lost
Last time I used Authy, you had to sync codes to another device, IIRC. Still, most peoples’ phones have a lot more than just auth codes on them. My warning was meant to address all those other data, too.
But now that I think about it, wiping and rooting a fresh/temporary device, syncing Authy, exporting with Aegis, then importing back to your main device would work…
Well at least they SEALED it and nobody captured the information when it was live because of course they did and you can’t fix something like this after the damage is done.
DON’T WORRY EVERYONE!
oh so even this bullshit that’s 20 times more annoying isn’t secure? good good
it’s sms 2fa, it was never secure. We’ve had reports of sms 2fa being bypassed for over a decade, but those were mostly sim swap attacks.
Unless your code is being generated locally, it’s not secure. Email has the same problem because that can be hijacked to intercept the code. A hardware dongle or TOTP app are the only real secure options for 2fa IMHO.
Yep SMS two factor authentication usage was officially suggested to no longer utilize by NIST in 2016, and in practice before that, to your point.
This shit is old, people! It’s trivial to compromise. Start transitioning where you can to passkeys and start using an app based MFA, like Duo or Authy, both free.
Why tf Google is outsourcing security?
Google is not a mobile phone network provider. SMS routing is not really their cup of tea. It is an industry with lots of established players, lota of local issues, and little to gain for Google. If it where up to Google, everyone would be using their app instead of SMS.
