Windows Authenticator beta spotted on the Windows Store

By Brad Jones January 14, 2016

microsoft project cheshire screenshots windows 10 phone v2 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

A new version of the Microsoft Authenticator app has been spotted on the Windows Store. However, it seems that the tool isn’t quite ready for public consumption just yet, as it’s listed as a preview version currently being used in an internal beta test of its functionality.

The app provides an easy way for users to confirm their identity to help carry out a two-factor authentication process, according to a report from WinBeta. Pair your smartphone with your PC via Bluetooth, and you’ll be able to use the app to log in to your home computer, safe in the knowledge that your account is protected against outside threats.

It seems that the new app will take a step towards removing passwords from the login process. A description on its store listing suggests that after pairing a device with a Windows computer, it’ll then be possible to log in with little more than a single tap of the Authenticator app.

It’s easy to see why Microsoft is implementing an internal beta test on an app containing this sort of functionality. Despite the fact that it’s not really anything new, it’s imperative that the tool works exactly as it’s intended to, as any sort of security breach would be disastrous.

Back in 2013, Microsoft released a similar product intended for use with Windows 8. As well as the aforementioned addition of one-touch access to your Windows PC, the look and feel of the app will of course be brought in line with the standard interface used across the Windows 10 family of devices.

While the app is listed publicly on the Windows Store, it’s still in beta, and as such, it isn’t available to the masses just yet. The finished version of the tool will also provide support for Microsoft account logins, solutions for signing in via a browser or VPN, and MFA approval via notifications.

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Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…

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