Michael Ruiz2

Q: 2Factor Auth: 25 Unique Password limit question?

The wording that mentions a limit of 25 unique passwords (UPs) is unclear what the 25 UPs are limited by…

Does this (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6186) mean that each account using 2 factor auth may only have 25 apps connected to iCloud in total? Or does it mean that each app is limited to 25 UPs?

 

If there is a limit of 25 apps connected to iCloud per account then advanced users — who are most likely to use 2FA — will not be able to use iCloud with 2FA if they have a high number of iCloud apps. Also as more devs enable iCloud integration instead of running their own cloud servers or integrate Dropbox (other cloud sync services), more people will have to juggle logins adding needless complexity to using their devices. This would result in people most able to understand the value of 2FA unable to use it, and thus having to make their devices less secure to use iCloud at all since most will not want to juggle which set of Apps has 2FA enabled. It might be easy to set up a basic list, but if and when an app outside the 25 needs access, the user must revoke another app’s access, then generate a new UP adding time and complexity.

Posted on Oct 9, 2014 4:07 AM

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Q: 2Factor Auth: 25 Unique Password limit question?

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  • by Roger Wilmut1,

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 Oct 9, 2014 4:13 AM in response to Michael Ruiz2
    Level 9 (78,283 points)
    iTunes
    Oct 9, 2014 4:13 AM in response to Michael Ruiz2

    This is all new and really all we know about it what the page you link to says. I would read it to mean a maximum of 25 apps. Someone asked whether the same app on two different Macs can use the same password or will need separate ones and this has not been made clear. The syncing service Fruux, which operates in a similar manner, requires a separate password per app per machine, but we don't know whether Apple think the same way. We shall probably only find out when someone tries it.

  • by Michael Ruiz2,

    Michael Ruiz2 Michael Ruiz2 Oct 9, 2014 7:42 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1
    Level 1 (29 points)
    Apple TV
    Oct 9, 2014 7:42 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

    Perhaps if others with this same question clicked “I have this question too” it might get Apple’s attention faster?

  • by Roger Wilmut1,

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 Oct 9, 2014 8:14 AM in response to Michael Ruiz2
    Level 9 (78,283 points)
    iTunes
    Oct 9, 2014 8:14 AM in response to Michael Ruiz2

    Apple don't read these forums, so it won't do much good. What we need is for someone to actually try it; if they add a second version of the same app and either can or can't use the same password then we shall know. I can't help because I use Fruux, not iCloud.