NON MOBILE authenticator

[~Sound Sage~]

Yes i know a lot of people have smart phones. but some people don't. Steam should not be neglecting the customers that don't have a cell phone and have alternatives to mobile authenticators. meaning a pc program, or like gmail has, where the system calls your home phone and an automated voice gives you your code.

we need a non mobile alternative

[𝔗 𝔬 𝔟 𝔦 𝔞 𝔰]

no. This will not be removed or prty much updated whit new things... it's going to stay like it is

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

calls on a landline is much easier to intercept than a mobile phone.

and using a pc program negates the entire "2 factor" part of the authenticator.

so...

Messaggio originale di Hades:

no. This will not be removed or prty much updated whit new things... it's going to stay like it is

[JPMcMillen]

Messaggio originale di ~Nocturne Saint~:

Yes i know a lot of people have smart phones. but some people don't. Steam should not be neglecting the customers that don't have a cell phone and have alternatives to mobile authenticators. meaning a pc program, or like gmail has, where the system calls your home phone and an automated voice gives you your code.

we need a non mobile alternative

What we really need is a way to activate the authenticator on non-phone Android and iOS devices (i.e. tablets) without having to recieve the activation code by SMS to a cell phone.

[Shards]

Why not a standalone authenticator? Sure the authenticator would be more expensive than the Blizzard/Daybreak Games authenticators because it has to validate trades as well as generate codes, but it's cheaper than paying $100 a month in smartphone plans. Leave both options open: smartphone authenticator and the standalone authenticator; less outcry about the 15 day trade/market bans, people without cellphone access can just use their home wifi, people who have no need for cellphone data plans again can use their home wifi.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

you dont need to buy a phone with a plan. any cheap android phone with a prepaid $20 card will be enough.

[ecznos]

Get a cheap smart phone and the problem is solved. You don't need a iphone 7 or Galaxy S8 to use mobile authenticator.

[Radene]

Nobody's asking to have mobile authentication removed or replaced, people just want additional security options - like the proposed idea for tablets that don't involve a SMS code.

But apparently that makes them wrong and stupid.

[Narcoleptic Marshmallow]

Messaggio originale di Radene:

Nobody's asking to have mobile authentication removed or replaced, people just want additional security options - like the proposed idea for tablets that don't involve a SMS code.

But apparently that makes them wrong and stupid.

Not stupid, but definitely wrong.

Because it's not aditional security, it's less security for the sake of convenience. And we all know who will have to deal with this reduced security and all the complaints that will follow.

They're also grossly over exaggerating the issue, like the little dude up there claiming a phone has to come with a $100/month plan, to further their point.

But the reality is, you only need any cheap phone capable of receiving SMS and any cheap device capable of running the app. Smartphones can do both, but a single device is not required.

If people are willing to buy a dongle that serves no other purpose, they can purchase any low end $20 smartphone with android to do the same thing.

[Radene]

Messaggio originale di Narcoleptic Marshmallow:

Messaggio originale di Radene:

Nobody's asking to have mobile authentication removed or replaced, people just want additional security options - like the proposed idea for tablets that don't involve a SMS code.

But apparently that makes them wrong and stupid.

Not stupid, but definitely wrong.

Because it's not aditional security, it's less security for the sake of convenience. And we all know who will have to deal with this reduced security and all the complaints that will follow.

They're also grossly over exaggerating the issue, like the little dude up there claiming a phone has to come with a $100/month plan, to further their point.

But the reality is, you only need any cheap phone capable of receiving SMS and any cheap device capable of running the app. Smartphones can do both, but a single device is not required.

If people are willing to buy a dongle that serves no other purpose, they can purchase any low end $20 smartphone with android to do the same thing.

It might be a lesser degree of security than the steam app, but a greater degree than no authentication at all which is what they have now.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Messaggio originale di cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

you dont need to buy a phone with a plan. any cheap android phone with a prepaid $20 card will be enough.

:qr:

Issue with that is, if you don't keep paying they will give the number to someone else. Then if one of the users of the number gets VAC banned, it could get all account using that number banned as well.

[Narcoleptic Marshmallow]

Messaggio originale di Radene:

It might be a lesser degree of security than the steam app, but a greater degree than no authentication at all which is what they have now.

No authentication at all puts a 2 week hold on everything market related they do, which is more than enough time to recover the account and cancel/restore trades/gifts and market transactions in the event of an account hijack. The goal is to prevent or minimise losses, nothing else.

Messaggio originale di Spawn of Totoro:

Issue with that is, if you don't keep paying they will give the number to someone else. Then if one of the users of the number gets VAC banned, it could get all account using that number banned as well.

I would say this is as likely to happen to someone as them being hit by a falling meteorite. It's within the realm of possibilites, but unlikely that any of us will get to see it happen in our lifetime.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Messaggio originale di Narcoleptic Marshmallow:

Messaggio originale di Spawn of Totoro:

Issue with that is, if you don't keep paying they will give the number to someone else. Then if one of the users of the number gets VAC banned, it could get all account using that number banned as well.

I would say this is as likely to happen to someone as them being hit by a falling meteorite. It's within the realm of possibilites, but unlikely that any of us will get to see it happen in our lifetime.

There have been several people complaining of getting a VAC ban who admitted to useing a service that allowed you to rent a phone number and recive an SMS text on their computer in order to activate a mobile authenticator on an Android emulatror.

So no, it is a realy possibility and has happened.

[Narcoleptic Marshmallow]

Messaggio originale di Spawn of Totoro:

There have been several people complaining of getting a VAC ban who admitted to useing a service that allowed you to rent a phone number and recive an SMS text on their computer in order to activate a mobile authenticator on an Android emulatror.

So no, it is a realy possibility and has happened.

I have never heard of a phone number rental service. What I have heard is people who got banned due to using VoIP or otherwise publicly shared phone numbers.

Your orange name tells me I should trust what you say but I cannot believe this has happened to someone's private number, let alone several times. Are we sure these people weren't just lying to get out of a ban? Wouldn't be the first time, or the most original excuse.

[JPMcMillen]

If you are worried about losing the phone number, shop around with different wireless providers. Sometimes you can find ones that will have dirt cheap plans for older 'dumb' phones. Then you just need a compatable flip phone and you're good to go.

[Orkpower]

There ARE options available to expand 2FA; Yubikey, for example (which IS a seperate device and requires physical input in order to activate); and I would give anything to be able to use it for the authenticator. I'm physically disabled and generally bed ridden so I resent needing a smart phone in order to expedite trading/listing things on the market.