Tesla Working on Double Security 2FA to Improve Vehicle Safety

Featured image: Tesla

Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently promised to launch two-factor authentication. And now we have confirmation that testing of this function has already begun.

The delay in the release of the long-awaited feature seems due to some technical difficulties. But in mid-August, Musk tweeted that the feature is now being tested.

Sorry, this is embarrassingly late. Two factor authentication via sms or authenticator app is going through final validation right now.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 14, 2020

Yesterday, Teslascope founder @ycorsair/Twitter confirmed that two-factor authentication will now be implemented on Tesla accounts. He suggested that this feature is currently undergoing A/B testing.

He also confirmed that the Mobile App is also now using a web-based login as well with proper OAuth. OAuth is an open standard for access delegation, commonly used as a way for Internet users to grant websites or applications access to their information on other websites but without giving them the passwords.

It means that Tesla added support for the second factor of authentication to the account login. And this is the first signal that the company has begun rolling out this feature. It should be noted that this is a limited rollout, which will be tested before becoming available to everyone.

2FA is confirmed to now be implemented on Tesla Accounts (likely still being A/B tested though). Mobile app is also now using a web-based login as well with proper OAuth. @WholeMarsBlog @vincent13031925 @Tesmanian_com @tesletter pic.twitter.com/XPtSjghgs9

— Tyler Corsair (@ycorsair) September 4, 2020

Two-factor authentication, also known as 2FA, is a security measure in which a user confirms their identity in two different ways: with a password, and again with an additional step such as a passcode or fingerprint scan.

Musk did not say exactly when this feature will be launched for all owners. But, since he wrote that the process is "going through final validation right now,” and there is evidence of this, we shouldn’t have too long of a wait. 

It should be expected that authentication can be provided via SMS, where the respective company sends the user code via a text message or using an authenticator app. Apps like the Google Authenticator generate one of these text message codes that users can enter themselves. Although it should not be ruled out that Tesla could develop something unique of its own.

Tesla owners currently have an app that basically works like a car key, allowing them to lock and open doors, check charging times, locate the vehicle, etc. 2FA will add an important layer of additional security.

© 2020, Eva Fox. All rights reserved.

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Article edited by @SmokeyShorts, you can follow him on Twitter

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