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Passkeys generally protect better against account takeover than authenticator-app codes or ordinary push approvals because FIDO/WebAuthn authentication is phishing-resistant. App-based MFA is still a useful choice when a service does not support passkeys, but its codes or approvals can be tricked out of users. Your account’s recovery options and weaker sign-in fallbacks also matter.

Why passkeys are safer against phishing

Passkeys use FIDO/WebAuthn authentication, which CISA classifies as phishing-resistant. The credential is bound to the authentication protocol and site context, so a fake sign-in page cannot simply collect a code that works on the real service. By contrast, an attacker can relay a phished authenticator-app code, or persuade someone to approve a fraudulent sign-in.

CISA’s December 2024 Mobile Communications Best Practice Guidance calls FIDO authentication the strongest form of MFA and says authenticator codes, though better than SMS, remain vulnerable to phishing. Its Implementing Phishing-Resistant MFA fact sheet likewise ranks FIDO/WebAuthn above app-based OTP and push methods for phishing resistance.

What “authenticator app” can mean

One-time codes (OTP)

An OTP app displays a short-lived code for you to enter at sign-in. It adds a second step beyond a password, but a fake site can ask for the current code and relay it to the legitimate service before it expires. Treat an OTP as a secret: never enter it on a page reached from an unexpected link or disclose it to someone claiming to help.

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Push approvals

A push prompt asks you to approve or deny a sign-in. Ordinary approve/deny prompts can be abused through repeated requests or user error: a person may approve a sign-in they did not initiate. If the service offers number matching, use it. Matching a displayed number to the sign-in helps reduce push-bombing exposure, but it does not make push authentication phishing-resistant like FIDO/WebAuthn.

How passkey deployment affects recovery

Not every passkey works the same way. Depending on the service and platform, it may sync across devices or remain bound to one device. A synced passkey can make access easier to restore when a device is lost, but its safety also depends on the account or service that protects the synced key material. A device-bound passkey may be harder to recover unless you have enrolled another authenticator.

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CISA’s SCuBA Hybrid Identity Solutions Guidance describes this trade-off and recommends a risk-based choice; for AAL3, it advises against syncable authenticators. This is not a claim that every passkey is device-bound or that biometrics are sent to the service. Check the passkey behavior and recovery process for the particular service and device you use.

Choose the strongest option each service supports

Option Phishing and approval risk Recovery consideration
Passkey (FIDO/WebAuthn) Phishing-resistant; blocks common fake-site credential capture. Syncable credentials may aid restoration; device-bound credentials may require another enrolled authenticator after device loss.
Authenticator-app OTP Better than SMS according to CISA, but codes can still be phished and relayed. Depends on app backup or transfer and the service’s account-reset process; procedures vary.
Authenticator-app push Ordinary approvals can be abused through fatigue or user error. Number matching reduces some push-bombing exposure, but is not phishing-resistant. Depends on app transfer and the service’s reset process; procedures vary.

Use FIDO authentication where feasible, especially for high-value accounts. If passkeys are unavailable, an authenticator app is a reasonable MFA choice; select number matching over an ordinary push prompt when offered. CISA’s guidance recommends app-based codes for less valuable accounts when FIDO is not available.

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What to do if you lose your phone

  1. Before loss: enroll a second supported authenticator or recovery method where appropriate, and learn the service’s documented recovery process. For a passkey, find out whether it syncs or is device-bound.
  2. After loss: use the service’s official account-recovery flow from a trusted device. Do not respond to unsolicited messages offering to recover the account or share a one-time code.
  3. Once access is restored: review enrolled devices and authenticators, remove access you no longer control, and set up a replacement method before relying on the account again.

Should you keep SMS as a backup?

Check each account’s sign-in and recovery settings. Enrolling a passkey or authenticator app does not necessarily turn off SMS, and an attacker may target a weaker fallback if it remains available. CISA recommends disabling weaker MFA methods when feasible after FIDO enrollment. Keep a fallback only when you need it for recovery, and understand that it can weaken the protection provided by your stronger sign-in method.

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When a hardware security key makes sense

A hardware security key is an optional way to use FIDO authentication; you do not need to buy one to use passkeys. CISA names YubiKey and Google Titan as examples of hardware-based FIDO keys and says hardware-based FIDO keys are most effective where feasible, with passkeys an acceptable alternative. Before purchasing a key, check that your accounts and devices support it and plan a backup recovery route.

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