Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Glossary

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Authenticator App

1 min read
Pronunciation
[aw-then-ti-kay-tor ap]
Analogy
Like a digital token fob that displays rotating codes you enter along with your password.
Definition
A mobile application (e.g., Google Authenticator) generating time‑based one‑time passwords (TOTP) for two‑factor authentication.
Key Points Intro
Authenticator apps secure wallets via:
Key Points

TOTP codes: 6–8 digit codes rotating every 30 seconds.

Offline operation: No network needed after setup.

HOTP support: Counter-based codes for some services.

QR-based setup: Scan secret seed to configure.

Example
An exchange requires TOTP from Authenticator app when withdrawing funds.
Technical Deep Dive
App stores shared secret per account. Computes TOTP = Truncate(HMAC-SHA1(secret, counter)) mod 10^6. Counter = floor(time/30s).
Security Warning
If device lost, recover codes via backup of secret seeds.
Caveat
Phishing sites can trick users into revealing codes; combine with phishing-resistant methods.
Related Terms
Seed Phrase

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