Apple Engineers Propose Standardized Format for SMS One-Time Passcodes

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Apple WebKit engineers have put forward a proposal to make one-time passcode SMS messages more secure by developing a standardized format for the two-step verification process, reports ZDNet.

one time passcode sms black background
Two-step verification logins require a user's password and another element that only the user would know – in this case, a one-time code sent via text message – to gain access to an online account.

As it stands, these SMS messages can arrive in a variety of formats, making it difficult or impossible for apps and websites to detect them and automatically extract their information.

Apple's proposal has two goals. The first is to introduce a way that one-time passcode SMS messages can be associated with the website, by adding the login URL inside the message itself.

The second goal is to standardize the format of the SMS messages, so that browsers and other apps can identify the incoming message, recognize the URL, and then extract the OTP code for automatic insertion into the appropriate login field on the website.

The idea behind automating OTP entry is that it eliminates the risk of users falling for a scam and entering an OTP code on a phishing site with a different URL.

Apple developers provided the following example of the new format SMS message for OTP codes:

747723 is your WEBSITE authentication code.
@website.com #747723

The first line is intended for the user, enabling them to determine the website that the SMS OTP code came from, while the second line is processed by browsers and apps so that they can automatically extract the OTP code and complete the 2FA login operation.

If auto-complete fails, users will be able to check the URL of the website that sent the text against the site they're trying to log in to.

According to the report, Google Chrome engineers are already on board with Apple's proposal, but Mozilla's Firefox team have yet to provide official feedback on the standard.

The new proposals would add another layer of security to Apple's existing security code autofill feature, introduced in iOS 12, that can detect one-time passcodes in Messages and display them conveniently above the user's keyboard.

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Top Rated Comments

fjfjfjfj Avatar
fjfjfjfj
78 months ago
The way iOS captures the text code and fills it automatically is so convenient. It’s one of those little features that just makes things a bit easier and I smile every time it does it.
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
adammusic Avatar
adammusic
78 months ago
now work on auto deleting those messages after 10 minutes.
They pile up.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
araadt Avatar
araadt
78 months ago

Way to solve the problems of 10 years ago. Apple used to be more forward looking than this.
If the problems of ten years ago aren’t solved yet that makes them the problems of today.

I could likely get my mother to use 2FA by sms but I’d never be able to convince her of carrying around an Authenticator device or using a keygen app. If we have the opportunity, shouldn’t we refine all options?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
oneMadRssn Avatar
oneMadRssn
78 months ago
2FA using SMS is better than nothing, but is not very secure because of how SMSs can be intercepted.

If Apple is pushing for standards, why not standardize a proper 2FA protocol (e.g., OATH) and require all smartphones to have a standard compatible authenticator app built-in?

Indeed, I bet Apple could do it by themselves if they just bundle a 2FA app into iOS using a common open protocol. It's hard to get users to downloading Authy or similar app, but if its built-in it will take off. Service providers will be incentivized to adopt that protocol so their 2FA can be native in iOS, and the Androids will copy Apple as they always do.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lobbyist Avatar
lobbyist
78 months ago
It’s a very Apple like proposal - it just works.


The way iOS captures the text code and fills it automatically is so convenient. It’s one of those little features that just makes things a bit easier and I smile every time it does it.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
baryon Avatar
baryon
78 months ago
Yes please! I hate it when making a payment, your bank sends the text but you can only copy the entire message as a whole so you have to remember it. And the code expires after a few seconds.

Actually, not being able to select and copy text from messages is extremely annoying, like when someone sends you someones phone number or email address but doesn't leave a space before and after it... The bane of my existence.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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