A ‘One Time Password’ is often known by its abbreviation – ‘OTP’.
An OTP aims to provide a second layer of security for the ‘normal’ login details.
An example of an OTP
You would log into a website with your username and password – this is what is considered to be a ‘normal’ login.
A ‘one time password’ field will appear on the screen after you have used your normal login details.
A code (the OTP) will be sent to your smartphone by the website you are logging into.
Once received, you would enter the ‘OTP’ you have just received into the field on the website to complete your login.
An OTP is only possible if the website has your phone number pre-registered to your account.
What is the purpose of a ‘One Time Password’ (OTP)
The purpose of an OTP is to make your normal/standard login details more secure.
If an individual managed to find or guess your login details, they would also need to have the registered smartphone that is sent the relevant OTP to gain access.
OTPs are used as part of 2FA (2 Factor Authentication) for websites that handle personal information. That includes banks, ecommerce stores, and online business systems that might handle personal or sensitive information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an ‘OTP’ look like?
A ‘One Time Password’ or ‘OTP’ usually consists of an alphanumeric OTP code – this means a series of letters and numbers.
How Many Times can I use an ‘OTP’?
OTPs are designed to be used once. They usually expire after a set time – between 1 to 15 mins but this will be shown on the website when the OTP is issued.
Each time you log into a website that uses OTP, it will send your registered smartphone a new OTP for use.
If you are looking to up the security of your website, speak to the team here at Digital Nachos.
Published: 2nd Feb 2024