Struggling to Set Up Secure Logins for My Apps
Hey everyone, I’ve been working on tightening up the security for a couple of web apps I manage. I read somewhere that using one-time passwords is a good way to add extra protection. While searching around, I found this link about a hotp generator, but I’m not really sure how it works or how it’s different from other two-factor methods like TOTP or SMS codes. Has anyone tried using something like this before? I’d love to hear about the setup process and whether it’s worth adding to a small project.
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Yeah, I’ve worked with HOTP before when setting up authentication for a small internal tool. The main difference between HOTP and TOTP is that HOTP uses a counter instead of time — meaning each code is valid until it’s used, rather than expiring every 30 seconds like TOTP does. It’s great for systems where timing might be an issue, but managing it can be slightly trickier because you need to keep the client and server counters in sync. For smaller projects, it’s definitely doable, especially if you’re already handling user sessions securely. If you just need a simple extra layer of protection, TOTP (like Google Authenticator) might be easier to implement and maintain.
Hi there! I’ve actually been working with one-time password systems for a while, and I can say HOTP is a solid choice for secure logins. It’s based on a counter system, which means every new code depends on the number of times it’s used rather than the time it's used. That makes it great for systems where time syncing can be tricky. I found a really detailed explanation and setup guide on the site you mentioned — it walks through everything clearly and even includes examples. Definitely worth checking out if you want a reliable, simple 2FA option.