What Are One-Time Passwords?
To understand OTP bots, you first need tounderstand OTPs themselves.
They typically last just 30 to 60 seconds before theyll no longer grant access to an account.
The idea here is to stop people who mightve stolen, guessed, or brute-forced your password.
Stealing a password is relatively easy, but its not likely a criminal has your password and your phone.
How Do OTP Bots Work?
OTPs have become so common that some phonesnow automatically delete these verification codesclear the inbox.
OTP bots target these systems in one of two ways.
The first and most common way OTP bots work is by tricking users into revealing their one-time codes.
To do that, they often impersonate the service theyre trying to log into.
Imagine a cybercriminal is attempting to log into your online banking account.
The other way OTP bots work is by intercepting the OTP message before it reaches you.
When successful, this method may be less likely to raise alarms, but its harder to pull off.
Remember to always verify before trusting anything, and err on the side of not responding to unsolicited requests.
If available, you shouldenable phishing-resistant MFA features, though these arent common yet.
That way, youll know that any OTP requests are scams, as the real service wont use them.
Biometrics like facial recognition or fingerprint scans are a great option.
Finally, always be on the lookout for suspicious activity.
Acting fast is the key to stopping attacks before they cause much damage.
When you know what to watch out for, youll understand how to stay safe.
Remember that no security system is 100 percent reliable.
OTPs and other MFA methods are a crucial part of good cybersecurity, but theyre not perfect.
Consequently, you should always approach things with caution and watch for suspicious activity.
