OTP code via SMS, for safer access and protected systems

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Two-factor authentication (2FA), which often occurs by sending an SMS , or sending an OTP code via SMS , is one of the most widespread and economical methods for making registration , purchasing and/or accessing sensitive data online more secure. Sending temporary passwords via SMS should no longer be considered a luxury, but the security standard that all websites, platforms, e-commerce and apps should offer.

In this post we explain argentina phone number data what an OTP code via SMS is and how it works, what are its most common uses and why you should integrate its sending into your site. Through the APIs of Esendex, a leading provider in Europe for SMS services to small and medium-sized businesses, implementing a reliable system for sending OTP codes is easy and safe.

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What is an OTP code?
OTP is the acronym for One Time Password , which in Italian can be translated as “temporary password”. It is therefore a password to be used only once, a disposable code, which allows the user's identity to be verified before accessing a protected system (online accounts and similar). The definition of OTP provided by Wikipedia helps us better understand what an OTP is and why it is used:

A One-Time Password is a password that is valid only for a single login session or transaction.

The OTP code responds to an ever-increasing need to increase online security. In fact, it does not present a series of shortcomings typically associated with the use of the traditional password, which is necessarily static. OTPs via SMS are generated pseudo-randomly and have a limited duration over time. For this reason, unlike static passwords, they are not vulnerable to replication attacks . This means that if a potential intruder were to intercept an OTP that has already been used to access a service, he would not be able to reuse it, as it is no longer valid.
Thus, sending an OTP code via SMS has become part of one of those best practices recommended by all security experts and which fall within the “ Strong Authentication ” or “ Two Factor Authentication ” (2FA) trend.

How does sending OTP codes via SMS work?
Using OTP SMS and sending temporary passwords may vary slightly from system to system, but generally involves a few basic steps:

A user attempts to log in to a protected system with his email and password.
If the data entered is correct, the system generates a temporary password that meets the security requirements deemed necessary, such as length, use of special characters or punctuation elements.
The OTP code is sent to the user via SMS, to the mobile phone number specified by the user.
The end user receives the OTP code via SMS and enters it in the appropriate space provided.
The portal verifies the correctness of the temporary password and allows the user to safely access their account.
OTP Code via SMS: The Most Common Uses
The use of One Time Password via SMS is mainly widespread in three scenarios.

Registration processes
SMS authentication is increasingly used as a replacement or in combination with email address verification in registration processes on portals, platforms, e-commerce and apps. In these cases, SMS OTP authentication can occur at the time of registration or after several uses of the application.