OTP Verification

Overview

One-time passwords (as in OTP) are very common to this day. Everyone uses OTPs at various sites during login, registration, and transactions on e-commerce sites, banks, social media, messaging apps, government services, healthcare platforms, financial institutions, etc. OTP verification is integrated in day to day life so let’s know about it a little more.

miniOrange provides OTP verification for various CMSs like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal etc. Visit the miniOrange WordPress OTP Verification product page to learn better about Secure WordPress Login.

What is One-time Password (OTP)?

A one-time password (OTP) is a string of characters that authenticates the user and prevents unauthorized use or fraudulent transactions by generating new codes every time it’s used. OTPs are far more secure than static passwords. User-created passwords tend to be weak, and because people reuse them across multiple accounts this makes hackers’ jobs significantly easier. Unlike regular logins which can be used repeatedly and indefinitely by the same individual, an OTP is intended for only one use. OTP also expires after a few minutes.

Why do we need additional security layers especially OTP in recent times?

• Defend against password-based attacks:
  Passwords created by users can easily be guessed. Cybercriminals find it easier to carry out security assaults to steal passwords such as password sniffing (capturing network traffic and extracting authentication information from it), brute force attacks (in which the attacker guesses all possible combinations of characters in sequence until he finds one that matches) as well as dictionary-based attack. The OTP password generation method unexpectedly combines numeric and alphanumeric characters, making it more difficult for attackers to guess passwords.
  OTP Validity is only for a few minutes One-time passwords can only be used for a single verification. It expires in a few minutes. One-time passwords lose their validity quickly due to time synchronization. In order to complete or retry the transaction after the password has expired, the user must request a new OTP.

• User data validation:
  OTP helps in the authentication of the mobile number or email address of the users which verifies the user’s identity. It reduces the chances of duplicate accounts of the same person during registration, login, feedback forms. It also assists in providing the actual data of users on any site or application.
  
• Payment Transactions:
  OTP helps in the authentication of the mobile number or email address of the users which verifies the user’s identity. It reduces the chances of duplicate accounts of the same person during registration, login and feedback forms. It also assists in providing the actual data of users on any site /application.

OTP Verification for WordPress Site

WordPress is an open-source platform and is mostly used by everyone. OTP Verification is also a basic necessity to verify the customers for every site and to collect genuine data about the customers. The primary use cases for WordPress sites where OTP Verification is required are listed below.

• Registration :
  During registration, there is a chance that the user enters fake information which increases the size of the database, and it is also a waste of time and effort to try to contact them. So it is essential to confirm the mobile number/ email id. OTP verification for WordPress ensures only valid users with genuine phone numbers and email address registers themselves on your WordPress site
  

• Login : Anyone can log in to the site with another person’s credentials and can access important information. OTP Verification adds an additional layer of protection to the site.
  

• Feedback/Contact Us : These are the ways the customers or clients come in contact with us and share their queries, requirements, or any other issues they may face. It is mandatory to contact them and resolve their issues. OTP verifications assist in authenticating the information.

• Checkout : While checking out from any eCommerce site it is essential to validate the mobile number/email ID to reach out to customers for payment, and delivery and also keep them updated regarding their order/item. It is especially important for the ‘Cash On Delivery’ option during checkout.

• Passwordless login : Passwords are vulnerable and easy to predict, so they can be known to anybody. Using only OTP Verification to log in enhances the security by adding one more layer of authentication. It also reduces the chances of login by anyone other than an authorized user. It also saves users from the hassle of remembering passwords, with the passwordless login feature of the miniOrange OTP verification plugin you can log in with( username + OTP).

• Ease In Login : OTP verification is remarkably user-friendly due to its simplicity and speed. Users receive a temporary code via text message, email, or authenticator app, eliminating the need to remember complex passwords. The process involves entering the received code into the designated field, requiring minimal effort and time. Its real-time nature ensures immediate access, enhancing user experience by swiftly confirming identities and enabling quick account access or transaction approvals. Additionally, the method doesn't rely on personal information, bolstering security while remaining straightforward for users of varying technical abilities. Overall, OTP verification's seamless integration into diverse platforms and its straightforward, instant validation significantly contribute to its ease of use for individuals across different digital interfaces

• Secure Account Recovery : OTP verification can be used in account recovery processes. When users forget their passwords or need to reset them, sending a temporary OTP to their verified contact information allows them to regain access securely. Password reset is one of the easiest ways to get hold of anyone’s account unauthorizedly. So it’s crucial to check the request to reset the password is from the owner. So verifying the owner through their verified mobile number or email ID by sending the OTP is essential.

• Prevent duplicate entries : OTP verification can help avoid multiple registrations using the same email address or cell phone number.

Different mediums to send OTP

Nowadays, there are several ways to send OTP to your consumers depending on your preferences and company needs. SMS is no longer the sole option; other methods are now available. Here are a few well-liked and dependable methods for sending the OTP.

• SMS :
  SMS OTP is sent to a person by SMS to authenticate the registered mobile number along with its identity. SMS is the oldest, easiest, and most efficient way to send OTPs. As it is present in every mobile phone and free to receive SMS. Nowadays everyone uses a mobile phone so they can authenticate without any worries.

• Email :
  Email OTP is sent to a registered email ID for authentication. As most of the official communication happens via emails, it is necessary to verify them.

• Call :
  Call This is an alternate way to verify the mobile number of a person. OTP is spoken over call on the registered mobile number. This method can help persons with limited eyesight.

• WhatsApp :
  This is the trending method to send OTP on WhatsApp. Nowadays WhatsApp is present on most mobile phones. WhatsApp is also used in many countries and is widely used for communication with each other. In this way, businesses can also personally communicate with the customers for their offers, discounts, and many more things.

• Time-Based OTPs (TOTPs) : TOTPs generate OTPs based on the current time, usually synchronized with a mobile app like Google Authenticator, Authy, Last Pass, Microsoft etc. These time-sensitive OTPs expire quickly, enhancing security against replay attacks.
  A replay attack is a type of cyberattack where a captured communication or data transmission is maliciously retransmitted or replayed to gain unauthorized access or cause harm. In the context of authentication and security systems, a replay attack occurs when an attacker intercepts and then resends valid authentication data, such as login credentials or authentication tokens, to impersonate a legitimate user.

Various Security breaches that have happened due to compromised passwords

Some real case events where data breaches occurred due to weak or compromised passwords:

In 2016, Yahoo suffered a massive data breach where the compromised passwords of approximately 3 billion user accounts were stolen. The breach was attributed to weak password practices, including the storage of user passwords in plain text format.

Equifax, one of the largest credit reporting agencies, experienced a data breach in 2017 due to a vulnerability in their website software that allowed hackers to gain access to personal information, including passwords. This incident highlighted the need for robust password security measures.

In 2019, Capital One experienced a data breach where a hacker gained access to the personal information of over 100 million customers. The breach occurred due to a misconfiguration in a web application firewall, which allowed the attacker to exploit weak passwords.

In 2020, Marriott International disclosed a data breach where the login credentials of two employees were compromised, leading to unauthorized access to guest information. The breach highlighted the importance of implementing a strong authentication process.

These cases demonstrate the critical role that weak or compromised passwords can play in exposing sensitive data to unauthorized access. It emphasizes the urgent need for individuals and organizations to prioritize strong password practices, including using unique and complex passwords, implementing multi-factor authentication, and regularly updating passwords.

Conclusion

OTP verification is one of the ways to ensure the identity of a person during transactions, registration, etc. OTP verification provides additional security along with the static password method. It also helps to reduce cyber crimes as the expiry time of OTP is just a few minutes. OTP verification is a very simple and feasible solution for any business.

miniOrange OTP Verification Plugin for WordPress provides the OTP Verification and SMS Notifications functionality on various forms such as WooCommerce, Gravity, Ninja, Ultimate Member, Elementor, and Registration Magic etc. on WordPress. It also provides different solutions for OTP functionality on other CRMs and technology stacks.

Features of the miniOrange OTP Verification plugin are listed below

• OTP over SMS, Email, WhatsApp, Call, etc. :
  The OTP Verification secures login into the WordPress account by authenticating the user's phone number and email address thereby eliminating the chances of fake registration and unauthorised login.

• WooCommerce and Gravity Addon SMS Notifications :
  The OTP Verification plugin allows you to send SMS Notifications on a variety of forms, including Gravity Forms and WooCommerce forms, in addition to OTP Verification. Notifications via SMS can be sent for several events, including Order Placing and User Registration.

• External SMS\Email Gateway Options : OTP Verification plugin supports scores of third-party SMS gateways. Please refer to this documentation to find out all popular listed SMS Gateways.

• Passwordless Login : This feature of OTP Verification ensures your secure login with convenience. Users can log in with the Username and OTP. Making the login easy and doing away with the need to remember passwords.

The benefits of the miniOrange OTP Verification plugin

• The OTP verification plugin is super user-friendly and very convenient to use.
• Regularly updated and is compatible with the latest version of WordPress.
• If you don’t have your own SMTP/SMS gateway, you can use the miniOrange gateway which is very easy to use and requires no management.
• The OTP verification plugin can be integrated with our custom gateway as well.
• World-class support is available to help you with any query. We provide Email support, phone support and one-on-one screen share meetings with our developers to resolve your issue immediately. Reach out to us at otpsupport@xecurify.com for any queries
• Support 50+ WordPress Plugins and Themes And many more… To learn more about our plugin please visit our page miniOrange OTP Verification for WordPress
• Free version of the plugin is available to use - you can install our free version the plugin - Email Verification/ SMS verification / OTP Verification plugin and test the functionality Of the Free Plugin
• Through documentation in the easy-to-understand language is available for setting up the plugin please refer to this guide to set up the plugin.
• Our plugin has 200,000+ downloads and is rated 4.8/5. You can visit to see what our users have to say about our OTP Verification plugin and support.