Microsoft's Outlook App on iOS and Android to Serve as Two-Factor Authentication Method

Microsoft is planning to introduce a two-step verification method, called "Authenticator Lite," using its Outlook app on iOS and Android. This feature will allow users to log in to accounts that require two-factor authentication (2FA) without having to download a separate app.

Previously, Microsoft had a separate dedicated 2FA app, but it now aims to incorporate this functionality into its Outlook app. This would be the first non-email feature of the app. According to Microsoft, the "Authenticator Lite" feature will be available to the public in March.

Microsoft's motive behind introducing this feature seems to be to provide users with an easy-to-access option to enable 2FA via an app. Currently, Microsoft's Authenticator app has around 50 million downloads on the Google Play Store, while its Outlook app has been downloaded over 500 million times. In the past, Microsoft has urged users to avoid using 2FA via SMS due to its lower security level compared to authentication apps. Overall, this move by Microsoft will likely make it easier for users to secure their accounts with two-step verification while making it more convenient to access the feature via the popular Outlook app.