Proton releases its own authenticator app for two-factor authentication. Proton Authenticator is open source and available on desktop and mobile.
The Swiss company Proton announces Authenticator with a blog. Proton’s new application offers an alternative to existing 2FA apps from Google and Microsoft. Proton Authenticator supports both mobile devices and desktops, and also works offline.
2FA with E2EE
Users can synchronize their 2FA codes between multiple devices via end-to-end encryption (E2EE). Those who prefer not to can store the codes locally. The app also offers features such as automatic backups, biometric security, and PIN locking.
A key difference from other 2FA apps is that Proton Authenticator is fully open source. Proton emphasizes that many existing solutions are closed, contain ads or trackers, and do not offer encrypted backups. Importing and exporting data can also be cumbersome in some cases. Proton Authenticator aims to provide an alternative without these limitations.
Available with or without an Account
The app operates independently of other Proton services and therefore does not require an account. However, integration is possible, including with Proton Pass, the company’s password manager that was launched in 2023.
Proton Pass already includes a built-in 2FA feature, but the new Authenticator app offers an additional layer of security by generating codes in a separate application. Users can choose based on their own usage and threat model.
European Alternative
Proton Authenticator is now available for free on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux. The company states that using the app incurs no costs and that this will not change in the future.
The launch is part of the broader range of privacy-focused services that Proton has developed in recent years, including Proton Mail, VPN, Drive, and Pass. Proton positions itself as a European and privacy-friendly alternative to the similar services of the American tech giants. The Swiss company has even recently launched its own chatbot Lumo.