Online Sign-in Authenticators

[MissMyBike]

I need to make sure I receive online authentications from US financial institutions (e.g. banks, brokerages, IRS) while in Mexico. I have heard cases where 2-factor text message authenticators do not work outside the US (i.e. IRS). I would very much appreciate hearing your guidance in use of such authenticators & whether some work better than others (text messages, apps, USB security keys).

[kasugie]

SMS-OTP messages from most US financial institutions will not reach a Telcel phone. I've needed to maintain a US cell phone here for this purpose alone. I don't know what the experience has been for AT&T Mexico (formerly iUSACell and Nextel) users.

A lot of US financial institutions are thinking of moving away from SMS-OTP for cost and security reasons. But there probably won't be a single standard for 2-factor authentication. PC Magazine just ran a fairly informative article on this.

https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/multi-facto...-set-it-up

It's probably best to keep checking the web sites of your financial institutions to see what 2fa options are available now, and also what's in the pipeline.

[roberb7]

SMS-OTP messages from most US financial institutions will not reach a Telcel phone.

I can state for a fact that TD Ameritrade can send SMS messages to my Telcel phone. All my other financial institutions use email.

[mr bill]

I use the SMS feature of VOIP provider Callcentric.com which gives me a US number. It costs me $1/mo. I'm notified immediately by email when a SMS message comes in. Usually all the info I need from the SMS will be in the email so I don't have to go to online to my callcentric account. The US number will display on caller IDs. To use the phone feature you'll need an ATA adapter and a land line type of phone (the phone does not need to be connedted to Telmex or any other provider).The account has a voice mail box too.

[doncoulter]

I use a service similar to mr bill's, at Sonetel.com. The "free" plan actually costs me $1.99 a month in theory, but with Texas sales tax and other mysterious charges, it always winds up costing me about $2.40. I had a choice of U.S. area codes (possibly any code at all, I don't remember) and chose one of Houston's for various reasons. As with mr bill, Sonetel sends me an email whenever I have an SMS. However, the service also includes phone calls, forwarded to any number, landline or cell; I use my Telcel cell. The only glitch there is that after about two rings, the call goes to voicemail, which I then get by email. The forwarded phone calls cost me an additional 2.4 cents each.