Why do accounts keep requiring one-time passcodes??

hlritter Said:

"[...]In any case, I tried clearing the cache, and it worked. The websites now remember me after I went through the two-factor authentication process after clearing the cache. Thank you for the suggestion."

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You are welcome - glad it worked!

hlritter Said:

“Why do accounts keep requiring one-time passcodes?? When I sign in to my accounts on Amazon, my insurance company, and others, they say my computer isn't recognized and either send a one-time passcode to my iPhone or ask for more information.[...].”

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Some Thoughts:

• It is All About Preventing Hacking:

Seems it these are a Two-Factor Authentication method of sorts for logging in. It is a factoid of Filtering Out evading hackers. Security & Privacy is being used to make sure you are not a “robot” performing this login method.

• Whom to Contact:

If you wish to turn this off, then contact the site. They are apparently the ones sending you the code.

• If Not Recognized:

Make sure items do not open in new Private tabs, because after you close the tab, cookies would be lost, and you have be promoted every time to log in. Also, contact the site, as they are the ones sending your these codes.

• Uninstall Security Software:

Finally, any Security Software installed? If so, rid of it, as its privacy settings maybe disallowing your devices to be remembered. Security Software is unnecessary and just gets in the way on Macs, and this is a pure example of how and why.

Use an Uninstaller and get it directly from the developer’s site and none other. Elsewise, you may end up installing malware or spyware on your system. Just dragging-and-dropping it into the Trash will leave files laying about you Mac.

hlritter Said:

"Why do accounts keep requiring one-time passcodes??: I don't think I'm communicating clearly: I have no objections to cookies from these reputable sites, and I have taken no steps to prevent the dropping of cookies. That is not the problem.[...]"

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Before the Reinstall - Three Thoughts...

I. Reset the SMC and your NVRAM:

Sometimes when changes are made to the system(i.e. updates), system configurations (i.e. for Ports) become manipulated, technically. So, reset the SMC and NVRAM. Your hard drive may not be being read promptly, so resetting these, all of the ports would be configured to how they should be.

II. Boot into Recovery Mode:

Hold Done: Shift key. Then, perform a boot. In Safe Mode all items open by default. Login items would not open at log in. So, all setting would be our aside.

III. Create a New Administrator User:

See if creating a new user fixes this. If so, it is something in your current user. So, what you would do is, transfer everything over to the new user, rid of this current user, and you would be all set from there.

hlritter Said:

"Why do accounts keep requiring one-time passcodes??: [...]I want them to quit because verification is being stored.[...]"

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A Few Thoughts on Privacy:

• Clear Temporary Internet (Cookies & Cache) of Safari:

If you are concerned about items being stored on your device, then it is cookies. Cookies perform remembrance of certain site-entered data. Whereas cache keeps a snapshot of the last time you visited a site.  Use this Link: Clearing History and Cache - Apple Communities

• Read Sites' Terms & Conditions:

Unless you were to visit a fraudulent (phishing) site, then take the above as with a grain of salt - I would have no concern for them storing remembrance of your visitation. If you were to read their Terms & Conditions, I'm certain their use of Cookies and Cache would be mentioned somewhere within.

• Scan for Malware:

Start with running a scan for malware, using Malwarebytes for Mac and remove what is found. Perhaps something was installed that made this occur. Remove what is found from the quarantine. Malware is short for: Malicious Software. It makes you computer act in a mislead manor. Malwarebytes is created by longtime users of these forums, making it the only trustworthy Security Software for a Mac.

Downloads:

1. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac
2. Malwarebytes uninstaller

hlritter Said:

"Why do accounts keep requiring one-time passcodes??: [...]The problem, as I see it, is that Safari or the OS has somehow become configured to reject the cookies that at least these websites are trying to leave to show that this machine has been verified as mine. What I want to do is to undo this setting, after having tried every apparent setting in an unsuccessful attempt to do that."

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Safari is Corrupt. So, where to go from here:

I. Try another Browser:

Try using another browser (i.e Firefox or Chrome. If that works - then the issue is undoubted Safari. Safari is built into the macOS. So, it cannot be reinstalled alone.

Then...

Backup and Reinstall

I would highly recommend you backup the hard drive, and then reinstall the macOS.

II. Time Machine Backup:

Create a Time Machine backup prior to the reinstallation of your macOS, so that you can have something to restore your Mac from, should anything go wrong with the reinstall. Use an external hard drive that is at least 1.5 the total storage capacity.

Then...

III. Reinstall the macOS:

Nothing would be deleted. It's just that items that have become corrupted or deleted, would be placed back to where they should be. Go Here: How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support

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For Note:

Your network settings may have become manipulated, technically. So, that is why you would want to reinstall the macOS.

I use Firefox and run into the same thing. Some of the investment firms I deal with will also ignore my settings and cookies and require a code be sent for extra security measures. Nothing you can do about it: I look at it this way - the more obstacles there are in any hacker's way, the better it is since you really cannot trust anything/anyone online these days. They hack into everything and I'd rather "waste" 30 seconds on getting an email and entering the code than have my info stolen for ID theft or other nefarious purposes.

Don't expect clearing the cache to be a permanent solution. I clear mine at least once a day when I quit the browser (also clear history, etc) and I still get the behavior.