What’s the currently best way to manage TOTP tokens?
from Dirk@lemmy.ml to selfhosted@lemmy.world on 10 Mar 20:35
https://lemmy.ml/post/44307645

Hey!

I basically want to replace the Google Authenticator app in style and functionality:

  1. List all TOTP tokens and their validity time (with a name and order I decide).
  2. Allow me to periodically or on change back up the whole thing to some off-site storage, keeping the last N backups.
  3. Have a native app for Android or an actually good PWA.
  4. Don’t do magic bullshit like fetching icons, hide tokens, etc.
  5. Be actually secure (i.e. don’t roll your own auth)
  6. Just be a TOTP manager, and nothing more! No, I’m not interested in a password manager, thank you. I also don’t want any other OTP methods I don’t use.
  7. Don’t be a one-man projects where the availability is not clear in >1 year.

Any experience is welcomed. Thank you!

#selfhosted

threaded - newest

eager_eagle@lemmy.world on 10 Mar 20:37 next collapse

Aegis + syncthing for remote backups

Redjard@reddthat.com on 10 Mar 20:54 next collapse

This. Aegis does all of the points except offsite backups. And for good reason.
The Aegis app has no network permissions at all, which is obviously a massive boost for security and privacy. And besides, off-device backuping is a nightmare.

Syncing the Aegis backups made on change to some other server is better handled by a great dedicated app. Syncthing is the best such program (by far), though for the few files involved here nextcloud would work just as well.

LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyz on 10 Mar 20:59 next collapse

Print out all the QR codes on a sheet of paper and keep them secure in a fire safe. That’s really the best way to keep them backed up and secure.

eager_eagle@lemmy.world on 10 Mar 21:07 collapse

until you need to update them, or when you need recovery when travelling

LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyz on 10 Mar 21:51 collapse

If you need to update them, you just reprint and replace.

If you need to recover on the road, well that depends on your risk tolerance. I’m never away from home so long that it’s a problem, and pretty much every service has a way to bypass 2FA in case of emergency.

bismuthbob@sopuli.xyz on 10 Mar 21:06 collapse

I second Aegis. You can drag icons and rename tokens. You can also sort by a to z, last used, usage count, etc. Aegis supports automatic backups and can export plaintext or encrypted backup files, after which you can transfer them to other devices however you transfer other files from your phone.

The backup files work with Aegis and with several independent desktop apps depending on your OS of choice. While I haven’t looked into it, that suggests that the encryption method isn’t something homebrew.

As far as #6 goes Aegis doesn’t try to save my passwords, encourage me to use passkeys, or suggest AI solutions. Magic bullshit is a vague qualifier, but I think Aegis is thaumaturgically inert. The ‘icons’ are just the first letter of the name of the token issuer by default.

The more-than-one-year lifetime is a problem with anything, including plenty of Google projects. There are over 60 contributors on github, so that’s something.

solrize@lemmy.ml on 10 Mar 20:50 next collapse

I’m using FreeOTP from F-droid and imho it suffices if you’re going to use a phone app at all. The ability to back up OTP keys in principle defeats the concept of 2FA but it’s hard to live without, once you have enough keys. The thing about retain last N backups is hard to enforce without special arrangements in your backup scheme.

Cyber@feddit.uk on 11 Mar 07:43 collapse

+1 for FreeOTP+ - been using it for a while and it does everything I need.

[deleted] on 10 Mar 20:59 next collapse
.
Smash@lemmy.self-hosted.site on 10 Mar 21:38 next collapse

Stratum all the way

mongojarle@nord.pub on 10 Mar 22:57 collapse

I second stratum, I think it ticks all your boxes.

dieTasse@feddit.org on 10 Mar 22:02 next collapse

You might want to check Ente Auth. Not sure how many checkboxes it ticks for you but I know people are quite happy with it.

vegetaaaaaaa@lemmy.world on 10 Mar 23:15 next collapse

No, I’m not interested in a password manager, thank you

Ok. But since you already use a password manager (right?), why not use its built-in TOTP management. Why do you need yet-another-separate app?

If I really had to, I’d recommend Aegis.

But I’ll still recommend using a password manager (I use KeepassXC on desktop and KeepassDX on Android).

Coleslaw4145@lemmy.world on 10 Mar 23:37 collapse

Why do you need yet-another-separate app?

To keep your two factor codes and passwords separate in the event that your password manager is breached.

Also if you need a 2FA code to log into your password manager, how are you going to get it if its in the password manager that you can’t log into without the 2FA code inside it?

vegetaaaaaaa@lemmy.world on 10 Mar 23:45 next collapse

Fair enough.

I decided against web/network-based password managers for my personal needs since the additional attack surface is a concern. A Keepass database file synced across machines strikes a good balance for me (requires password + keyfile to open). It’s also simple to backup and protect.

So yeah, for you use case, I’d recommend Aegis Authenticator.

fizzle@quokk.au on 11 Mar 04:17 next collapse

This question comes up all the time with KeepassXC… like its not a 2nd factor if the TOTP is in the same app as the password.

Factor 1 is knowing the master password, and

Factor 2 is having the password file.

Im not trying to suggest the KeepassXC is the best for all uses, but its sufficient for me in this context.

mhzawadi@lemmy.horwood.cloud on 11 Mar 06:36 collapse

Also if someone gets into your password manager then they have all the keys to everything

airikr@lemmy.ml on 10 Mar 23:38 next collapse

If you want to have them locally stored with export and import capability: Aegis.

If you want them in the cloud: Bitwarden. Just make sure to backup the 2FA tokens every now and then.

richardwonka@slrpnk.net on 11 Mar 07:51 collapse

I’m happy with vaultwarden doing this for me.