The 2FAst And The Furious

There’s a woman who just started working with us and couldn’t get logged in.

Me: “You have your password? You have your [2fa App] running on your phone?” *The proprietary two-factor-authentication software.*

New Hire: “Yes.”

Me: “Okay, put in your username and password, then put in the code on [2fa App].”

New Hire: “I didn’t get it typed in fast enough; it changed.”

Me: “That’s okay, just delete it and wait until just after it cycles, then type the next one in.”

New Hire: “I still can’t get it in fast enough.”

So, I watch her. She follows my directions, and I figure out what her issue is.

Thirty seconds isn’t long enough for her to type in the six-digit code from [2fa App].

I’m at a total loss here… and I don’t have any suggestions for this problem. I tell her I can’t help her, and I explain the issue to the floor supervisor.

Me: “Boss, I’m not trying to be ageist here, but… she can’t seem to type in the six-digit code off [2fa App] fast enough to get logged in.”

Floor Supervisor: “Oh, that happens all the time. Just tell her to wait until just after it clicks over. A new code is generated every thirty seconds.”

Me: “Yeah, she can’t seem to type fast enough from it resetting.”

Floor Supervisor: “It’s six digits long.”

Me: “Yeah, and she can’t make it through all six digits fast enough.”

Floor Supervisor: “So… why are you telling me?”

Me: “Because… It’s not my problem anymore now that I’ve told you?”