Can anything be done about authentication via mobile 'phone?

karlie88

Uxb wrote: »

I guess the OP has not becasue
1 They do not have a mobile phone to put it in.
2. The PAYG sim might be "free" but to activate it to test it out in a mobile will require an initial top up of something like £10 to be applied by the user to it. So in effect each test costs £10 to do. Look at the various network coverage charts from each phone company instead.

Clearly a novice.

As far as I'm aware, all PAYG SIMs with the major networks activate once they're put into a phone that has been switched on. You'll be able to receive calls and texts, but you won't be able to make outgoing calls and texts (except for 999 emergency calls).

It's quite simple if the OP doesn't have a phone:

1. Order a 79p phone with a £10 top up - total cost £10.79 plus you get an EE PAYG SIM card with £10 to spend on calls/texts as you please: https://shop.ee.co.uk/mobile-phones/pay-as-you-go/alcatel-10-66-payg/details?selectedPlanCode=YBM10TTP3

2. Get £9 cashback via TCB in the process: https://www.topcashback.co.uk/ee-pay-as-you-go/

3. Order the other SIMs for free via the other networks. Test out the signal strength by asking someone to make a phone call to the SIM number in question. You can also look at the number of bars on the phone to assess the strength.

Net spend of £1.79 if done properly.

jamesmorgan

Loads of rural communities have no mobile phone coverage from any of the carriers (I live in one - a village of 2000 people). If my bank insisted I had a mobile phone for security purposes, I would simply change bank.

PRAISETHESUN

Which bank? Most of the current accounts I have either allow me to verify 2FA with a landline, or they have an offline app/physical token. I prefer SMS as I almost always have my phone with me but I can appreciate the lack of signal being a problem

elsabio

Which bank?

For me, Santander are the worst. Soon Nottingham Savings will be taking the same route.

anniecave

I'd agree that the coverage checkers aren't great. I have tried both EE and 3 since living at my current house, and all the coverage checkers say both should be fine, but I am continually missing calls and my phone shows no bars. I can often receive texts but not calls, so I can usually manage OK on the authentication, as a side issue!


I'm about to try o2 (already tried a free SIM from Lebara) as it seems to be a bit better, but still not great.



At work just within the same building (not that big) coverage varies between no bars and 3 bars signal depending where you are, so a coverage checker is never going to be that accurate!

20aday

If you have a supported handset and WiFi at home it’s worth mentioning again WiFi Calling.

EE, Three and iD Mobile all support calls and texts over WiFi when coverage is poor/non existent.

Anthorn

Some banks already have two-factor authentication with the little calculator type thingy that you put your debit card into and enter your PIN and it gives you a code to enter in the banking UI. If they don't they could enable the Google Authenticator app which works about the same as the little calculator type thingy.