Appliantology Is Adding 2-Factor Verification to Protect Your Data

[Stephen Grant Brown]

To anyone who’s been on the Internet for any amount of time, you’ve either heard of or use 2-factor verification. This adds a second layer of protection to your online accounts by having you use a one-time code whenever you login to that account.

Think of 2-factor as a second password you enter whenever you login to your account. Other than that, 2-factor verification should not affect anything else about how your accounts work or your permissions on the site. It’s just an additional layer of security when you’re signing in.

In an effort to stay up-to-date with Internet security, Appliantology is implementing 2-factor verification for all accounts starting next Friday, March 13.

This will this greatly enhance site-wide security and keep all our users’ accounts and data that much more secure. 2-factor verification has become a norm for modern online users.

Not only that, but it will preserve site performance for you by hindering accounts that allow sharing of logins, which increases bandwidth on the site (which can lead to annoying load times) and operating costs. Appliantology's terms of service state that there should be one user for each membership/account.

So, how does one get 2-factor verification? Well it’s actually pretty simple. You may already be using a 2-factor authenticator. If that’s the case, simply link your Appliantology account to your authenticator and you’re good to go.

If you are not using an authenticator, there are multiple ones you can use. For example, 2FAS is an authenticator app you can use for free and it keeps your data private. It's also simple to set up and use.

2FAS has a mobile app and browser extension you can install. For more info and install instructions, click here.

We at Team Samurai know how much you rely on Appliantology for your day-to-day work, which is why we’re giving y’all a heads up well in advance of the change so you can get it set up without losing a beat. We believe this will improve site-wide security, protect our users, and help keep the site running smoothly and quickly for everyone. 2-factor verification has become pretty much standard across the Internet and we’re glad we’re implementing it here at Appliantology.

Cheers,
Team Samurai

UPDATE:

Be sure to see this comment with answers to common questions and a short video showing how to set up an authenticator app.

[igloo]

Will this affect me if I sometimes use Appliantology in the field on my phone and am logged in on the PC at home all the time?

[MrApplianceMatt]

2 hours ago, igloo said:

Will this affect me if I sometimes use Appliantology in the field on my phone and am logged in on the PC at home all the time?

My guess is that they'll text a code to the number you have on record here like my bank will if I log in from a different device.

[igloo]

Just wondered if I can be only signed in on one device at a time. If I'm in the field and signed in at home, will it let me sign in?  The OP mentiones shared log ins being a problem, so I assume that means multiple devices at a time and so will this new feature prevent that.

[Captain Dunsel]

I watch some video on the Google Authenticator app.Seem's a little crazy to me.Seem's if your not doing it right you can get lock out of your google account.Makes me nervous for sure.Apple devices I use finger print or I phone face recognition. Is this going to be necessary for me?

[igloo]

Another question. Will this automatically log me out after some time?

[Shaphan Hawks]

I support this! Yes is very annoying to hear servicers talk about unscrupulous customers and then themselves do the same exact shady thing by means of encouraging shared logins, circulating hacked copies of paid membership courses and stuff. Trust But Verify!

[Shaphan Hawks]

Is it authenticator and/or sms 2 step or just authenticator?

[MarcusF]

2 hours ago, Captain Dunsel said:

I watch some video on the Google Authenticator app.Seem's a little crazy to me.Seem's if your not doing it right you can get lock out of your google account.Makes me nervous for sure.Apple devices I use finger print or I phone face recognition. Is this going to be necessary for me?

I’ve been using Google Authenticator for work and private stuff for years. You’ll be fine, just hold on to the backup codes (I’ve never had to use mine by the way).

Your Face ID or fingerprint doesn’t replace 2FA, 2FA is an added layer of protection. Your fingerprint or Face ID generally just makes it so that you don’t have to punch in passwords everywhere every time. You still have to use 2FA where it’s required/where you choose to. 

[Captain Dunsel]

On 3/6/2026 at 12:00 PM, Stephen Grant Brown said:

2FAS has a mobile app and browser extension you can install. For more info and install instructions, click here.

Now I see you deleted or amended your post about Google Authenticator.Why was that.Makes me more nervous now. Is Google Authenticator going to able to be used on my lap top and I Phone as most of my logins are from my Laptop.

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

16 hours ago, igloo said:

Will this affect me if I sometimes use Appliantology in the field on my phone and am logged in on the PC at home all the time?

No. Once you’re logged in using 2FA on your notebook, you’ll stay logged in until you log out. That’s how it works for me, anyway. The site does not log you out after a period of time like Gmail or Zoom.

You’ll need your phone for the initial 2FA log in on your notebook and then you’re set.

You can be logged in on multiple devices. I use Appliantology from mostly my phone but sometimes my notebook. I never have to log in unless I’ve logged out. 

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

14 hours ago, igloo said:

Just wondered if I can be only signed in on one device at a time.

Yes, you can be signed in on more than one device at a time. I do this routinely. 

Edited March 8 by Samurai Appliance Repair Man
Clarified question about multiple device logins.

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

12 hours ago, igloo said:

Another question. Will this automatically log me out after some time?

No, not automatically. Some site updates may trigger a re-login for all users (including me!) but this is infrequent. 

[Stephen Grant Brown]

49 minutes ago, Captain Dunsel said:

Now I see you deleted or amended your post about Google Authenticator.Why was that.Makes me more nervous now. Is Google Authenticator going to able to be used on my lap top and I Phone as most of my logins are from my Laptop.

It was actually thanks to your initial post that the Samurai and I poked around to learn more about Google Authenticator. It doesn’t lock anyone out, at least from what we found.

But what it DOES do is it spies on users’ data, violating their privacy. That’s why we decided to switch over to 2FAS.

I’ve used Google Authenticator for myself and never had any problems with being locked out or anything weird like that. Though now that I know the app’s spying on me, I’ll be getting rid of it.

So no reason to be nervous. You’re free to use whichever authenticator app you’re more comfortable with. Thanks to your initial comment, we found out about the Google Authenticator app scraping on users’ data, that’s why we made the change.

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

15 hours ago, Shaphan Hawks said:

Is it authenticator and/or sms 2 step or just authenticator?

Just an Authenticator app. No SMS. 

[SeriousJohn]

Some password managers have authenticators built in, also Ente has a free authenticator.

[Son of Samurai]

Howdy folks -- for anyone who still has concerns about setting up two-factor authentication, we made a little video that shows how that works. It's super quick and easy!

Also, since a number of questions were raised and answered in this topic, I figured I would take this opportunity to collect those answers in one post for your convenience:

Q: Will two-factor authentication prevent me from being logged in on multiple devices?I

A: No, two-factor authentication does not prevent you from being logged in on multiple devices. The first time you log into the site on a particular device, you'll be asked for your two-factor code. After that, the site will remember that device. So, for example, you can stay logged in on both your computer and your phone at the same time.

Q: Will the site automatically log me out now?

A: No. Once you log in on a device, you'll stay logged in, just like you always have been. So unless you intentionally log out, you'll only need to use your two-factor code when logging in for the first time on a device.

Q: Do I need an authenticator app, or can I receive the two-factor code as a text message?

A: You will need an authenticator app or browser plugin. There are tons of these out there, and none of them are difficult to use. We recommend the 2FAS app or browser extension simply because they have a good privacy policy, but there are authenticators available out there from all kinds of big names (Google, Microsoft, etc.)

Also, all authenticators are completely free to install and use. We're not talking about some proprietary software here.

Q: What happens if I lose my phone or otherwise can't access my two-factor authentication code? Am I locked out of Appliantology forever?

A: Certainly not. If you've lost access to your authenticator, then you can click the recovery link underneath the box that asks for the code. That will tell the system to send you an email which will let you reset your authenticator setup.

And if all else fails, you can always write us a contact form, and one of us on Team Samurai can manually reset you or help you out however else you need.

[Captain Dunsel]

Thank's Sam I was stressing over this.The video is great.

[MsAnn]

On 3/6/2026 at 10:00 AM, Stephen Grant Brown said:

To anyone who’s been on the Internet for any amount of time, you’ve either heard of or use 2-factor verification. This adds a second layer of protection to your online accounts by having you use a one-time code whenever you login to that account.

Think of 2-factor as a second password you enter whenever you login to your account. Other than that, 2-factor verification should not affect anything else about how your accounts work or your permissions on the site. It’s just an additional layer of security when you’re signing in.

In an effort to stay up-to-date with Internet security, Appliantology is implementing 2-factor verification for all accounts starting next Friday, March 13.

This will this greatly enhance site-wide security and keep all our users’ accounts and data that much more secure. 2-factor verification has become a norm for modern online users.

Not only that, but it will preserve site performance for you by hindering accounts that allow sharing of logins, which increases bandwidth on the site (which can lead to annoying load times) and operating costs. Appliantology's terms of service state that there should be one user for each membership/account.

So, how does one get 2-factor verification? Well it’s actually pretty simple. You may already be using a 2-factor authenticator. If that’s the case, simply link your Appliantology account to your authenticator and you’re good to go.

If you are not using an authenticator, there are multiple ones you can use. For example, 2FAS is an authenticator app you can use for free and it keeps your data private. It's also simple to set up and use.

2FAS has a mobile app and browser extension you can install. For more info and install instructions, click here.

We at Team Samurai know how much you rely on Appliantology for your day-to-day work, which is why we’re giving y’all a heads up well in advance of the change so you can get it set up without losing a beat. We believe this will improve site-wide security, protect our users, and help keep the site running smoothly and quickly for everyone. 2-factor verification has become pretty much standard across the Internet and we’re glad we’re implementing it here at Appliantology.

Cheers,
Team Samurai

Cancel my membership I’m not going through all that BS ! 

[MsAnn]

On 3/6/2026 at 10:00 AM, Stephen Grant Brown said:

To anyone who’s been on the Internet for any amount of time, you’ve either heard of or use 2-factor verification. This adds a second layer of protection to your online accounts by having you use a one-time code whenever you login to that account.

Think of 2-factor as a second password you enter whenever you login to your account. Other than that, 2-factor verification should not affect anything else about how your accounts work or your permissions on the site. It’s just an additional layer of security when you’re signing in.

In an effort to stay up-to-date with Internet security, Appliantology is implementing 2-factor verification for all accounts starting next Friday, March 13.

This will this greatly enhance site-wide security and keep all our users’ accounts and data that much more secure. 2-factor verification has become a norm for modern online users.

Not only that, but it will preserve site performance for you by hindering accounts that allow sharing of logins, which increases bandwidth on the site (which can lead to annoying load times) and operating costs. Appliantology's terms of service state that there should be one user for each membership/account.

So, how does one get 2-factor verification? Well it’s actually pretty simple. You may already be using a 2-factor authenticator. If that’s the case, simply link your Appliantology account to your authenticator and you’re good to go.

If you are not using an authenticator, there are multiple ones you can use. For example, 2FAS is an authenticator app you can use for free and it keeps your data private. It's also simple to set up and use.

2FAS has a mobile app and browser extension you can install. For more info and install instructions, click here.

We at Team Samurai know how much you rely on Appliantology for your day-to-day work, which is why we’re giving y’all a heads up well in advance of the change so you can get it set up without losing a beat. We believe this will improve site-wide security, protect our users, and help keep the site running smoothly and quickly for everyone. 2-factor verification has become pretty much standard across the Internet and we’re glad we’re implementing it here at Appliantology.

Cheers,
Team Samurai

Cancel my membership I am not going through all that BS! 

[Son of Samurai]

5 minutes ago, MsAnn said:

Cancel my membership I am not going through all that BS! 

Sorry you feel that way, MsAnn, but we appreciate all the time you've spent with us.

Per your request, I have cancelled your membership. I have issued you a prorated refund for the time you had not yet used in this membership term.

All the best from us here at Appliantology -- many happy repairs!

[Menno]

I watched the video, and I see you using your phone to get the code somehow.  We have some government sites we have had a phone call come in with numbers we have to put in to enter their site, is that what will happen here if you are not willing to add any apps on your cell phone?  My phone is only used for connections to the office for calls and texts, my number is top secret to others, all calls have to go through the office, once it got out and Bob Villa was on the other end of the line, had to get my number changed...  I really want to stay with this site but need to know how it can be done without my camera being used the way you just did, thanks

[Vance R]

Just make sure you get the authenticator app. Will look over the password manager at a later time.

[Son of Samurai]

1 hour ago, Menno said:

I watched the video, and I see you using your phone to get the code somehow.  We have some government sites we have had a phone call come in with numbers we have to put in to enter their site, is that what will happen here if you are not willing to add any apps on your cell phone?  My phone is only used for connections to the office for calls and texts, my number is top secret to others, all calls have to go through the office, once it got out and Bob Villa was on the other end of the line, had to get my number changed...  I really want to stay with this site but need to know how it can be done without my camera being used the way you just did, thanks

I’m not entirely sure if I understand your situation, but you do need either an app on your phone or an extension on your browser to use the two factor authentication. Either way, the authentication is completely private No one gets your phone number or any of your contact information. It’s just a handshake between our site and the authenticator app.

[igloo]

1 hour ago, Menno said:

I watched the video, and I see you using your phone to get the code somehow.  We have some government sites we have had a phone call come in with numbers we have to put in to enter their site, is that what will happen here if you are not willing to add any apps on your cell phone?  My phone is only used for connections to the office for calls and texts, my number is top secret to others, all calls have to go through the office, once it got out and Bob Villa was on the other end of the line, had to get my number changed...  I really want to stay with this site but need to know how it can be done without my camera being used the way you just did, thanks

Bob Villa huh? That's funny. I get calls from the secret service because my number is similar to theirs. (for real) I guess that would freak some folks on this site even more.