How to download and use a 2-factor "Authenticator" in Bionicpup?

[tigerflag]

I'm trying to create an account with a company that sadly requires a 2FA authorization app or private key to login. I've never used anything like that. I don't have a smartphone. I have a dumbphone that only does calls and texts. It can't download anything and it can't access the internet (this is by choice, BTW). I also don't have any Google accounts so Google tools are out.

They told me to download an Authenticator app or buy a Yubikey, which from what I can see would also require a download. I've never used such a thing; don't have a clue how to get one or what to do with it.

I have a desktop running Bionic Pup. My preferred browser is Firefox but I can use Chromium if it helps.

Any suggestions from the brain trust? If possible, I'd like whatever tool I download to be in the puppy package manager for simplicity's sake. I see some possible tools there there but honestly I am so confused.

Thanks

[TerryH]

Is text included as a method of their 2FA? If it is you should be able to receive a text on your phone. Other than that I am unable to assist.

[tigerflag]

No, they won't just send an SMS/text. I wish!

They have to make it complicated.

[mikewalsh]

Hallo, @tigerflag :-

Heh. Sounds like you're in exactly the same position as me, mate. I don't possess a smartphone - don't want one, TBH! - and also only access the net, etc, from a desktop PC in the comfort of my study.....using a big, comfortable chair, a large screen, proper keyboard & mouse. (I have bad enough eyesight anyway, without squinting at a 6" screen for hours at a time...)

In addition to moderating here, I also moderate over at BleepingComputer.com. Now, BC have their own Discord server, amongst other things. All staff are expected to take a turn at 'patrolling' the server, from time to time. Which is fine, but the stinger is that you HAVE to sign-in using 2FA. No exceptions for anybody.

So; no smartphone, thus I couldn't use the 'standard' authenticator apps. Hmm....what to do? I started searching.....

.....and it wasn't long before I found this:-

OTPClient

I posted about it over on the old Forums:-

https://oldforum.puppylinux.com/viewtop ... 4b4577e81a

At the time, I found a brilliant article by the tech writer Jack Wallen over at TechRepublic, which succinctly described exactly how to use OTPClient. Well, from written articles, Techrepublic appears to have evolved into a video-blog site; nothing written, everything is now a video. The vid for this is a bit short & sweet, and doesn't get all the info across:-

https://www.techrepublic.com/videos/how ... -on-linux/

There is a manual for how to use it, however, to be found here:-

https://github.com/paolostivanin/OTPCli ... -OTPClient

The big plus point about the thing is this :- Your sign-in/2FA stuff probably involves the use of one of these QRcodes, yes? If you can take a screenshot of just the QRcode itself, and save it as a PNG file, then OTPClient can "read" the PNG image of the QRcode, and can generate the necessary 'token' from it for you. This then gets saved into the database that you create on the first run......and can be re-used, over & over again by just firing up OTPClient whenever you need it.

------------------------------------

If this sounds like it'll do what you want, you can find the package I built for Bionicpup64 here:-

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

Just navigate through and help yourself. Hope that's of some use to you.

Mike.

(PS:- Companies automatically assume you're running Windoze. AFAIK, Yubikeys don't work under Linux... Go figure. )

[tigerflag]

mikewalsh, you are amazing. The OTPClient installed easy as pie. Now I'm studying the tutorials you so kindly linked. If I have any questions I'll ask, but I think this is gonna do the trick. This isn't the first time you've saved my bacon. Thank you so much!

My reasons for sticking with a dumbphone are the same as yours. Phone is for talking. Internet belongs on a desktop with a big, beautiful monitor so I can read and write comfortably. When I'm outside I'm engaged with my surroundings; not staring down at a screen. My dumbphone lets me remove the battery if I want to travel in privacy. Without a data plan my monthly phone bill is $8.00. Take that, smartphone!

[mikewalsh]

@tigerflag :-

Glad to be able to help. I was sure I couldn't be the only one that doesn't need, or even want to be 'online & connected', 24/7, everywhere I go.

I couldn't give a hoot about social media; haven't got the time of day for it, personally. I see all these folks wandering around in a daze, bumping into each other because they're absolutely glued to that little piece of tech that seems to be organically welded to the palm of their hand. What a comment on our society THAT is.

Whatever happened to enjoying life for its own sake? Or reading old-fashioned books.....or conversation? (Wossat? Huh? ) I've seen comedy sketches of folks sitting around a dinner table, engaged in a lively debate.....all without making a sound, 'cos the conversation is happening on their bloody smartphones! Jeezus H.....

What IS our society coming to?

If I'm a "dinosaur" because of that, then roll on Armageddon, that's all I can say.....

(Anybody in our position with a Google a/c will need summat like this after the end of May, 'cos Google is enforcing 2FA access for everyone on their accounts after the 1st of June.... Ain't Big Brother considerate, caring about your safety & security like that? )

Mike.

[tigerflag]

(Anybody in our position with a Google a/c will need summat like this after the end of May, 'cos Google is enforcing 2FA access for everyone on their accounts after the 1st of June.... Ain't Big Brother considerate, caring about your safety & security like that? )

Mike.

Yeah, I just read that post of yours talking about that! At work, all of our company email is on a Gmail server but several of us use the Thunderbird email client. I just gave our tech guy a heads-up.

It's the Borg. I'll fight it till the day I die. Thanks again, Mike.

[mikewalsh]

@tigerflag :-

Hey! we're here because we like helping out fellow Puppians. And if I can, then I will.....

Mike.

[BologneChe]

@tigerflag

Whether we like it or not, the mobile phone is a work tool...just like using Windows. Hope the suggestion of mikewalsh works for you.