this post was submitted on 30 May 2024
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So my company decided to migrate office suite and email etc to Microsoft365. Whatever. But for 2FA login they decided to disable the option to choose "any authenticator" and force Microsoft Authenticator on the (private) phones of both employees and volunteers. Is there any valid reason why they would do this, like it's demonstrably safer? Or is this a battle I can pick to shield myself a little from MS?

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 months ago

I won't allow any MS stuff on any of my devices.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Thanks people, some good replies here. I could demand a work phone, but that's impractical, dragging around two phones etc. I'd like all my 2FA in Aegis and not have to think and pick the right app first, let alone pick and unlock the right phone. The Shelter option is very nice, didn't know about that. If my company won't budge I'm doing that. When push comes to shove I could even use outlook that way on my phone.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago

You can just use FreeOTP

My company has the same policy

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago (1 children)

While it’s not technically safer, MS does make it a lot easier to set policy’s where you check a box for MSAuth.

Since the config is less complex and easier, it’s demonstratably safer to implement it this way.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago

If you're in the US, that could very well get you fired in any "at will employment" state. It's shitty, fucked up, and should be illegal, but the legislators seem to represent wealthy corporations way more than they represent their human constituents (GOP especially).

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Grab the shelter app from f Droid, add the Play store in shelter, move over to the work side Play store and install the authenticator.

Pause your work apps except for when you need to use the authenticator.

Prosper???

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago

Authentication methods in Entra ID (which is presumably what we are talking about as the identity provider) include Microsoft Authenticator and software otp.

Authenticator is push authentication, as described elsewhere here. If for some reason you're not getting push notifications, you can use an OTP code instead, but this still requires that you have push authentication configured in Microsoft Authenticator.

You can only use Software OTP in other applications if your administrator has explicitly allowed use of Software OTP as an authentication method, and also excluded you from being required to use Authenticatior - otherwise Authenticatior would always 'win' as choice of mechanisms because it is more secure.

Several states in the USA require that employees who are made to use their personal phone for business purposes be compensated. The enforcement method and process for requesting same is naturally very obscure.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago (7 children)

We let anyone use any authentication app. The Microsoft one is the best one. I'm pushing to make us exclusive because I'm sick of the IT support guys trying to support a dozen apps. You don't have to use your Microsoft account provided to use the app or back up your credentials.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I’m pushing to make us exclusive because I’m sick of the IT support guys trying to support a dozen apps.

While I understand this... Why not just refuse to support and NOT remove the capability for all those who don't need support and work just fine with their own? It's not like TOTP isn't a solved problem at this point.

Eg. "we only support MS auth, If you choose to use your own you will not receive any company support."

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Because that shit only works in fantasy land. If you can use it, employees WILL expect support and will repeatedly raise hell if they don't get it. Is a losing battle.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago

As a security enthusiast, please also push for allowing physical security keys. They are awesome.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago

Declare yourself a member of The Church of Emacs and claim your religious rights are being violated.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago

Lots of great conversation here, I also work somewhere where this is required. If I didn't need my phone for access to chat, I just wouldn't use it for work. Alternatively, my phone has a work profile so I use that for any work related or non-FOSS apps. My IT guy even approved of my methods and said do the minimum and never more with tech.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago

I used bluestack to emulate android and us MS Auth when I had no choice.

It's a waste of space, but it doesn't go on your phone at least

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago (4 children)

If your company is enforcing geographic location as a security qualifier then MS Authenticator can poll your device. Also you can use push authentication with the MS suite.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago (9 children)

And here I am wishing they would come out with an authenticator watch app, so I didn't have to do all the work of taking my phone out of my pocket and swiping a few times.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago

What's needed is an online 2fa service that just takes a username and copies the code to the clipboard.

/s before I get any replies.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago

At what point can you tax deduct your phone as a business expense?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago (8 children)

What is your concern about installing MS Authenticator.

I mean I can understand the principle of being forced to install anything on your phone.

But just stepping into the practical for a second: What do you worry will happen by installing this app to your phone?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago (4 children)

I'm not concerned per se and I definitely applaud the MFA requirement. I mean I hate MS and don't like apps I don't need, and I don't trust them, but as others pointed out this would mostly just be whiny. That's why I asked for reasons why restricting users to MS Authenticator would be preferable. If it's more secure or technically way easier and thus cheaper to maintain then fine, I'll find an acceptable way to comply. If not, then it's them who are whiny and I'd rather make the case to let us use whatever authenticator we already have installed.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago (3 children)

reasons why restricting users to MS Authenticator would be preferable

As a security professional:

  1. Under most situations, it is equally as good as any other 2FA app.
  2. Within the Microsoft ecosystem, it provides additional security features above and beyond simple 2FA.

If your workplace is leaning heavily on the Microsoft ecosystem, especially their cloud offerings like Azure, then restricting employees to the Microsoft app is a no-brainer, and actually quite reasonable.

For example, if they happen to have a hybrid domain with an on-prem domain controller syncing with Azure (forgive me for using obsolete terms, I’m a greybeard), then they can control all access to all company assets, including 2FA. If an employee leaves the company, they can also disable the Microsoft app at a moment’s notice by disabling the employee’s Microsoft account. Because everything is hooked into Azure, it sends push notifications down to all company assets - like the Microsoft 2FA app - to unhook all of the company’s credentials and prevent employee access after the fact.

You cannot do this with other 2FA apps.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago

I managed to get around the MS auth app and am using aegis right now.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago (11 children)

You can't just have microsoft text you a code? That's what I do

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