How to us Authenticator through Browser (Alternative to Google OR Microsoft Auth)

[*Kiba*]

https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/authenticator/bhghoamapcdpbohphigoooaddinpkbai install it like you would any other  chrome  extensions 

 

once installed  fine your 

 

you can unpin it or pin it for easy us 

 

 

but how it works is simple you  click scan it will pull up a screen just like when you  us  print screen  then find your  QR  code   

 

they look like this

 

 

 

now simple just move your mouse back up to the  Authenticator 

 

it will have a code here for you to  click on it will copy it for you  post said code in the box were it's asking for the code 

 

 

[daredevil]

Thanks  @*Kiba* moved to general tutorial section. I am hoping it helps folks for alternative to Google / Microsoft Auth. I use google for private and Microsoft for work stuff.  Thanks

[Gengis]

Notice that once you have activated google or microsoft authenticator, you cant disable it. At least, i tried and didnt find the way to do it.

 

Gengis

[*Kiba*]

i myself am not a fan of the  f2a  thing i do not like the fact you have just one more thing that easily lost  or for whatever reason blocks me from getting into my account  when i'm outside my home or at a friends place and i want to log in and check on things i very much dislike it  lol cell phone things make it even worse for people who dislke them i don't dislike using a cell phone but  i can't pay a 50$ bill for something i us  for less then 15 to 20 mins tops and i think it's a shame that everyone as has to have one to  sure i have  wifi in my home but who to say my net goes down and i'm out of all my accounts bc i have to use alternative way to get on the net 

Edited September 14, 2025 by *Kiba*

[daredevil]

1 hour ago, Gengis said:

Notice that once you have activated google or microsoft authenticator, you cant disable it. At least, i tried and didnt find the way to do it.

 

Gengis

 

For staff and above - it's mandatory because if your ID gets stolen, it can do damage to user data. 

[Gengis]

@*Kiba*

 

In 2025, a single password is not enough. A second factor is the minimum. If its not the authenticator, then it should be something else.

 

Gengis

[MosesIsComingLookBusy]

I was able to disable it. Just hit the Disable this method. And you don't have to use Google Authenticator, you can use any authenticator that uses the same settings.

 

[Gengis]

41 minutes ago, MosesIsComingLookBusy said:

Just hit the Disable this method.

I tried. It didnt work prolly because i am 18+.

 

Gengis

[MosesIsComingLookBusy]

8 minutes ago, Gengis said:

I tried. It didnt work prolly because i am 18+.

 

Gengis

Ah right, I see DD answered it aswell

[RedBaird]

4 hours ago, daredevil said:

 

For staff and above - it's mandatory because if your ID gets stolen, it can do damage to user data. 

 

Yes, I have to use it each time that I access any "high security" pages on FA forums.

 

@*Kiba* I told you wrong.  When I open the Google authenticator on my mobile/cell, the count-down timer is a blue circle with an expanding white color that mimics the sweep of a second hand.  The time before the code expires is 30 seconds, not one minute.  Then a new 'randomized" code appears, and the old one is useless.  (I got the colors backwards 😄 )  The codes change on the minute and on the half-minute, according to the time-display on my phone.

 

I have four accounts on my authenticator.  I have to use 2FA to log onto Veterans Medical sites and onto FA high-security pages.  I got an email from my Dental Insurance provider, saying that they will soon require 2FA to log onto their site, too. 

 

When DD started 2FA on FA forums, I had to use it to log onto my Leader account the first time.  I presume that the same is for all Staff+, too.

 

Kiba, your link, with the copy & paste function, might be better for me, since I sometimes enter the codes from my phone wrongly!  😄 (ACK!  Do it again!)

 

 

[daredevil]

4 hours ago, Gengis said:

I tried. It didnt work prolly because i am 18+.

 

Gengis

 

And here I thought you where 50+ 😄 hehe

 

 

[Sputnik]

so I was prompted to setup my 2fa on this forum, so I did like a month or more back

 

a few weeks ago the site layout was all screwed up and I logged out in case it was smth to do with my display settings 

 

and ofc forgot my passowrd &, today, when I logged back in I had to reset my password via my registered email which was simple - but on logging in again there was no need for a 2fa code

 

so that defeats the point of having 2fa, doesn't it?