Found the Killer App

[friedmud]

Ok, maybe a bit strong (I actually have several "killer apps" for my Apple Watch)... but I did run into a VERY useful scenario for the Watch today.

My university just forced two factor authentication (2FA) on everyone. They are using the "Duo" system that has three choices:

1. Send a passcode as a text message
2. Send a push notification to an iOS/Android/Blackberry app
3. Open the iOS/Android/Blackberry app (or have a physical key-fob) to get a passcode to type in

So... the deal is... when I go to log into anything associated with school I'm presented with these three options.

It turns out that #2 is awesome with the Apple Watch. It sends a push notification that goes instantly to the Apple Watch where it comes up with "Accept" and "Deny" buttons... pressing "Accept" lets me into the website immediately.

I really thought that 2FA at school was going to be a PITA... but with the Apple Watch it's a cinch to log in then hit "Accept" on my Apple Watch when prompted... and boom I'm in! No need to dig out my phone or key-fob or anything else...

 

[swarlos]

Ok, maybe a bit strong (I actually have several "killer apps" for my Apple Watch)... but I did run into a VERY useful scenario for the Watch today.

My university just forced two factor authentication (2FA) on everyone. They are using the "Duo" system that has three choices:

1. Send a passcode as a text message
2. Send a push notification to an iOS/Android/Blackberry app
3. Open the iOS/Android/Blackberry app (or have a physical key-fob) to get a passcode to type in

So... the deal is... when I go to log into anything associated with school I'm presented with these three options.

It turns out that #2 is awesome with the Apple Watch. It sends a push notification that goes instantly to the Apple Watch where it comes up with "Accept" and "Deny" buttons... pressing "Accept" lets me into the website immediately.

I really thought that 2FA at school was going to be a PITA... but with the Apple Watch it's a cinch to log in then hit "Accept" on my Apple Watch when prompted... and boom I'm in! No need to dig out my phone or key-fob or anything else...

Nice! I use Authy for all my 2FA logins, it's fantastic!

 

[sean000]

A smartwatch makes an excellent tool for 2FA!

Just curious... How are other faculty, staff and students handling the change? I manage the Help Desk at a 14,000 student university. We are exploring 2FA, but I'm not looking forward to the confusion it will create for some. We might start off making it optional, in exchange for less frequent password expirations.

Sean

 

[BarracksSi]

Wow, cool.

A year ago (or more), I started a thread on another forum, posting a link to an article suggesting how two-factor authentication just might be a "killer app" for smartwatches.

Nobody on the other forum seemed to notice. But, maybe, it's going to be the one thing that a smartwatch does better than any other gadget.

 

[friedmud]

A smartwatch makes an excellent tool for 2FA!

Just curious... How are other faculty, staff and students handling the change? I manage the Help Desk at a 14,000 student university. We are exploring 2FA, but I'm not looking forward to the confusion it will create for some. We might start off making it optional, in exchange for less frequent password expirations.

Sean

There is some grumbling but the Duo system is fairly painless. I haven't heard anyone seriously complain yet.

You can register multiple phone numbers, phones and tablets to receive the token from... so there is little chance that you will be somewhere without one when you're trying to log in.

In case it matters... this is at MIT. The benefits of 2FA have been pretty clear to us and we're pretty used to dealing with trchnology. Maybe it wouldn't go over so well in a less technology oriented setting? I could imagine some places have old curmudgeon professors without cell phones! ;-)
[doublepost=1466515090][/doublepost]

Wow, cool.

A year ago (or more), I started a thread on another forum, posting a link to an article suggesting how two-factor authentication just might be a "killer app" for smartwatches.

Nobody on the other forum seemed to notice. But, maybe, it's going to be the one thing that a smartwatch does better than any other gadget.

Do you have a link to that article?

2FA really is painless with the Apple Watch... I can't imagine that it could be any easier.

I've used 2FA for years with work... they use dedicated RSA fob things. It's a real PITA. They are never "at hand" when you want them (see what I did there?

 

[BarracksSi]

Do you have a link to that article?

2FA really is painless with the Apple Watch... I can't imagine that it could be any easier.

Here's my post at WatchUSeek:
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f513/smartwatch-killer-app-two-factor-authentication-1860538.html

And the article at ZDNet to which I linked:
http://www.zdnet.com/article/the-one-killer-app-that-could-make-us-all-want-a-smartwatch/

Here's an even older post at TechCrunch where they underestimate the speed and convenience of Pay on the not-yet-announced Watch, not guessing that it would work without the iPhone nearby:
https://techcrunch.com/2014/09/07/iwatch-payments/

 

[friedmud]

That ZDNet article was spot on! Funny to read the comments from people that don't "get it"