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Can I refuse MS Authenticator? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 6 months ago by Martin@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

264 comments fedilink hide all child comments

So my company decided to migrate office suite and email etc to Microsoft365. Whatever. But for 2FA login they decided to disable the option to choose "any authenticator" and force Microsoft Authenticator on the (private) phones of both employees and volunteers. Is there any valid reason why they would do this, like it's demonstrably safer? Or is this a battle I can pick to shield myself a little from MS?

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[–] neidu2@feddit.nl 31 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (6 children)

Can you claim that you don't have a smartphone? Then they'd either have to provide an alternative authentication method, or provide you with a phone.

I've been part of the Microsoft Bad crowd for well over 25 years now, but there are a few things that I will concede that MS has done well. Authenticator is one of them. I haven't looked much into the privacy aspect of it, though.

[–] LodeMike@lemmy.today 12 points 6 months ago

Don't do that. Just say they will provide you with an authenticator paid for by them.

[–] BobGnarley@lemm.ee 9 points 6 months ago (1 children)

If it has Microsoft's name on it, the privacy implications are horrendous. Guaranteed.

[–] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 6 points 6 months ago

It's odd that I prefer Microsoft to Google in terms of privacy at this point

[–] xmunk@sh.itjust.works 9 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Strong disagree with Microsoft Authenticator being well done - anything that is needlessly incompatible with competitors is bullshit. Either make your authenticator use the standard or fuck off.

[–] federalreverse@feddit.de 8 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Push Authentication in the MS Authenticator is Microsoft's proprietary thing. And I think that's probably what we're talking about here.

[–] lemmyvore@feddit.nl 1 points 5 months ago

There's half a dozen other apps that do similar stuff, PingID, SecurID etc.

[–] atocci@kbin.social 4 points 6 months ago

Might be interpreting your comment wrong, but it is compatible with competitors. You don't need to use Authenticator as your 2FA for a personal Microsoft account, and you can use Authenticator in place of any other TOTP app. It's OP's IT department that have chosen to disable the option to use other apps.

[–] barrbaric@hexbear.net 4 points 6 months ago

I did this at my work and got a little dongle that displays a string of numbers I have to enter when prompted.

[–] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 2 points 6 months ago

Not as well as Bitwarden.

[–] deweydecibel@lemmy.world 0 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Except that the Authenticator is being forced in place of other, third party apps.

I don't mind using my phone to authenticate. But now I'm not allowed to do it from Bitwarden. I must use their app.

[–] englislanguage@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Are you forced to use their app or are they just very insistently trying to trick you into using it? I.e., have you tried with Bitwarden or any other TOTP capable app?

[–] brbposting@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 months ago

I’m using a non-Google authenticator even though Google hit me with an “install Google Authenticator” dark pattern. Was kinda surprised it worked. Then I was miffed.