Designing Docker Hub Two-Factor Authentication
We recognize the central role that Docker Hub plays in modern application development and are working on many enhancements around security and content. In this blog post we will share how we are implementing two-factor authentication (2FA).
Using Time-Based One-Time Password (TOTP) Authentication
Two-factor authentication increases the security of your accounts by requiring two different forms of validation. This helps ensure that you are the rightful account owner. For Docker Hub, that means providing something you know (your username and a strong password) and something you have in your possession. Since Docker Hub is used by millions of developers and organizations for storing and sharing content – sometimes company intellectual property – we chose to use one of the more secure models for 2FA: software token (TOTP) authentication.
TOTP authentication is more secure than SMS-based 2FA, which has many attack vectors and vulnerabilities. TOTP requires a little more upfront setup, but once enabled, it is just as simple (if not simpler) than text message-based verification. It requires the use of an authenticator application, of which there are many available. These can be apps downloaded to your mobile device (e.g. Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator) or it can Continue reading
