Using Rust to Create a 2FA Code Generator

Robert McMenemy
3 min readMay 25, 2024

Introduction

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your online accounts by requiring a second form of verification in addition to your password. One common method of 2FA is using time-based one-time passwords (TOTP). In this article, we’ll explore how to create a TOTP code generator using the Rust programming language.

What is TOTP?

TOTP stands for Time-based One-Time Password. It is a temporary code that is generated using the current time and a secret key. This method is widely used in various applications and services for 2FA. The code changes every 30 seconds, making it difficult for attackers to reuse it.

Why Use Rust?

Rust is a systems programming language known for its performance, reliability, and safety. It’s an excellent choice for creating a secure 2FA code generator because of its strong emphasis on memory safety and concurrency without sacrificing performance.

Setting Up Your Rust Environment

Before we start coding, make sure you have Rust installed on your machine. If you haven’t installed Rust yet, you can do so by following the instructions on the official Rust website.

curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf…

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Robert McMenemy

Full stack developer with a penchant for cryptography.