However, HOTP has its own synchronization challenges. Time synchronization: If time synchronization between the server and the user's device is challenging or unreliable, HOTP might be a more suitable option. If user convenience is a priority, TOTP might be the better choice. User experience: TOTP offers a smoother user experience since passwords are automatically generated, while HOTP requires manual entry. If the company requires stricter security, TOTP might be the preferred option, especially as a second authentication factor for step-up authentication. Security requirements: TOTP provides higher security due to its time-based nature, reducing the window of opportunity for an attacker. Choosing between TOTP vs HOTPĬhoosing between TOTP and HOTP will depend on various factors: Their differences amount to how the OTPs iterate: by time or event. HOTPs and TOTPs are not entirely unique protocols from scratch they’re two means of achieving the same end. They are vulnerable to brute force attacks. HOTPs are more secure than passwords but less so than TOTPs. TOTPs are more secure than passwords, HOTPs, and SMS authentication. Users can input the OTP at any point in the future. Users need to input the OTP within the time allotted. Upon delivery, OTPs only work for a given time (usually 60-90 seconds) until they expire.Īfter being delivered, OTPs will typically remain valid until used, with no expiration. OTPs based on the seed are generated and viewable via authenticator apps or other hardware / software tokens. Otherwise, HOTPs function in almost the same way that TOTPs do.Ĭodes based on the seed are generated and viewable on authenticator apps. Specifically, the event iterates when a request is validated. HOTPs are HMAC-based one-time passwords, meaning that the moving factor is not the ticking hands of a clock but a counter that moves upon request. HOTP is an abbreviation for another acronym, Hash-based Message Authentication Code (HMAC). That said, TOTP is much more secure than SMS authentication, which is more commonly vulnerable to MITM (man-in-the-middle), phishing, and other attacks. However, the login process relies on the end user’s ability to input the OTP within the time allotted. With TOTP, there is no static password for users to memorize or for cybercriminals to guess or steal. If the codes inputted by the user and generated by the server match, the user is logged in. Independently, the server generates a code using the same seed and moving factor. The user can see this code on their authenticator app and input it in the relevant field. In the case of TOTP, the moving factor is based on Unix time, which means the OTP will expire if the user does not enter it within a given interval - commonly, this is set between 30 and 90 seconds. When users attempt to log in, the app or website will generate a code based on the seed and a moving factor. All OTPs generated in future login attempts will validate the user based on the same seed, even though the code will differ. A shared secret (a seed) is generated and stored on the server when the user registers with the OTP platform. The first step in any OTP protocol is registration. It’s safer and (arguably) easier than a conventional password. It’s a covert form of multi-factor authentication (MFA) that leverages a second device or account owned by the user to grant access to a given app, website, or other digital location. What is TOTP?Ī time-based one-time password (TOTP) is exactly what it sounds like – a password that works once and only for a limited time. Looking beyond traditional SMS-based OTP, two common approaches worth comparing are TOTP and HOTP. One way to prepare people for a passwordless future is using one-time passwords (OTP), which sound similar to their near-namesakes but offer much better security assurance. Even though passwords continue to be widely adopted, they are steadily being supplanted by more secure and user-friendly passwordless options. Conventional passwords are among the least secure authentication methods developers can build into their apps and websites.
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