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Before explaining how to use Safari to secure your browsing, it is necessary to remind you that a password manager is a much more secure method of saving/using passwords than a web browser.
However, if you do not want to use an additional application to guarantee your security, most browsers offer this service. And as long as you use strong passwords and your browser hides your saved passwords behind a master password, you should be fine, especially if you use two-factor authentication (2FA).
And if Safari is your browser of choice, you can use two-factor authentication without relying on a third-party app to generate these codes. Indeed, Apple’s browser has included the 2FA function since version 15.
So, if you were hesitant until now to use this security measure because of the need to add another application, here is the way to do it all from your browser.
How to use Safari’s 2FA code generator
To do this, you must have the latest version of the Safari web browser and a site that allows two-factor authentication. For the following demonstration, I will use a device running macOS Sonoma with Safari version 17.
If you have already registered on a 2FA site with a mobile application (like Authy), you will either have to unregister the device or use the 2FA code from your application. Otherwise, you will simply be able to add your device to authenticate using 2FA.
1. Open Safari settings
To get started, open Safari, then go to Safari > Settings. You can also press the key combination cmd And , to open the settings more quickly.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET.
2. Access passwords
Click on the tab Passwords and enter your user password or use Touch ID to unlock your keychain.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET.
3. Locate the necessary password
Locate the entry for which you want to add the 2FA option and double-click it to open it. Once the entry is opened, a pop-up window will appear. In this window, click Configure to the right of the verification code. You can also add a note, if you need to retain information about this entry.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET.
4. Enter the verification code
In the next pop-up, you can enter the verification code from your current 2FA registration, or add the code presented during your new registration. If you can’t see this code, you will probably need to go to the site in question to remove two-factor authentication and then re-enable it. Once you have the code, enter it in the field or scan the QR code provided to you by the service for setting up the 2FA interface. The entry is ready to be made.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET.
5. Use two-factor authentication
To log in to a site using Safari two-factor authentication, go to the site and log in. When 2FA authentication appears, click on the area where you need to enter the 2FA code and select the entry that appears in Safari. Use Touch ID or your user password to confirm your identity. You are then connected.
The bottom entry is the code generated by Safari. Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET.
Source: ZDNet.com