Description

Bitwarden has introduced its new multi-factor authenticator app, Bitwarden Authenticator, now available for iOS and Android devices. This app utilizes time-based one-time passwords (TOTPs) for account authentication, offering users an additional layer of security. The launch announcement emphasizes Bitwarden Authenticator's compatibility with widely adopted standards like TOTP, ensuring seamless integration across various platforms, including legacy applications. Unlike TOTP authentication, which was previously a premium feature limited to paying users within the Bitwarden Password Manager, the Bitwarden Authenticator app is free for all users, even those without a Bitwarden account. Users can utilize it as a standalone app. Kyle Spearrin, Bitwarden's CTO, stated that the launch of this new app responds to user demand for a standalone authenticator and promises further feature enhancements in future releases. Although the app lacks some advanced features found in other products in this space, it is now stable and operational. Currently, Bitwarden Authenticator generates TOTPs for online services supporting MFA apps, including the Bitwarden Password Manager. Backups are managed by the OS's backup services. The app settings allow users to add biometrics for added security, and exporting is also an option. The roadmap for future releases includes additional features such as an import function, push-based 2FA, account recovery, Bitwarden account and vault syncing, and enterprise-grade authentication options. While some users may find the absence of these features challenging, migrating to the new tool should not pose a significant hurdle for most. Bitwarden Authenticator is available for download on Google Play for Android devices and on the Apple App Store for iOS devices. Both the iOS and Android versions are open-source projects, and their code is available on public GitHub repositories here for iOS and here for Android.