Two-Factor authentication and Windows Phone Authenticator

DavidY

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Will Microsoft add two-factor authentication to Microsoft Accounts?

Microsoft to add dual-factor sign-on security 'soon': report

The company will follow very closely in Google's footsteps as it adds a more secure authentication process for logging in to devices and services

More info here:
Microsoft to add dual-factor sign-on security 'soon': report | Microsoft - CNET News

Regardless of whether Microsoft Accounts will have 2-factor authentication, it seems there's already good news for people with Windows Phone 7.5/8 and a GMail account (or other account compatible with Google's authentication). Microsoft have released a new Authenticator app:

There's a strong indicator that there's truth to the report: the availability of an Authenticator app from Microsoft for Windows Phone 7.5 and 8, published last Friday with a version 1.0.0.0 release.

One commenter said the app "also works with Google's 2-step authentication," an indication that there could be a two-way street between Google and Microsoft systems. That could be very handy since Google offers its Authenticator app for Android, iOS, and BlackBerry and many people who might want to use Microsoft services will have those types of phones.

I've not tried it myself, but if you have Windows Phone and wanted to added extra security to a GMail account without needing to receive an SMS message to log in, there now seems to be another option.
 

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