In this video I share with you a scary experience I had using Google’s Authenticator App. The Authenticator App is Google’s 2FA app that latches on to your specific device and when you transfer your device the codes don’t transfer over like other apps.
Google Authenticator is a free app developed by Google that generates unique time-based one-time passwords (TOTPs) on your smartphone or tablet, providing an extra layer of security for your online accounts. By using the app, you can ensure that only you can access your accounts, as the generated codes are only valid for a short period of time and are required along with your regular login credentials. It is commonly used for two-factor authentication (2FA) and is compatible with various online services, including Google, Facebook, Twitter, and more.
The app does provide a layer of security that makes the user feel superior to those who don’t use the app. You get a new code to access every site that integrates with it in combination with the traditional password.
The app doesn’t inform you that it will not transfer over with the rest of your data should you switch phones. I discovered this after I had erased my older iPhone 11. This locked me out of several financial apps that I use, sending me into an extreme panic. To regain access to my financial accounts, I had to restore data to my old device, access each account with the available Google Authenticator code and remove that layer of security before erasing the device again.
To not lock yourself out of accounts utilizing Google Authenticator, you must follow these steps before erasing your old device.