Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a common security approach that requires users to provide two separate pieces of information when signing in. For example, when you sign in to Ringba, you provide your username and password pair and a code from a separate authenticator app.
Ringba requires you to configure MFA in the following situations:
- You sign in to Ringba for the first time
- You sign in for the first time after requesting an MFA reset. You might need to reset MFA if you lose the device with the authenticator app. You can contact Ringba Support at support@ringba.com to request the reset. See How do I get help with Ringba? for more information.
This article contains the following sections:
Multi-Factor Authentication
Once you set up MFA, Ringba prompts you to enter the code from your authenticator app after you sign in with your username and password.
Important: You have to open the authenticator app on your phone to see the code that you need to type into the field on your computer. Signing in does not trigger the app to send the code to you automatically.
When you sign in, you have the option to select the Remember this device checkbox that appears directly under the MFA Code field.
If you select this checkbox, Ringba does not prompt you for the MFA code when you sign in for the next 30 days unless you do one of the following:
- Reset your password.
- Go to the Login Security screen and sign out of all devices. See Login Security for step-by-step instructions.
If you do either of those things, you'll need to provide your MFA code the next time you sign in, even if you're still within the 30-day window.
Note: To protect your account, you should not choose the Remember this device checkbox if you're signing in from a device you share with others.
Each user in your account, including admins, publisher users, and buyer users, must set up MFA individually.
Important: Ringba no longer allows sharing sign-in credentials. You can easily invite users to your account at no additional cost. See Inviting a User for step-by-step instructions.
How to Set Up Multi-Factor Authentication
Each user in your account must complete these steps individually. Setting up MFA for one user does not set it up for your other users.
Prerequisites
- You must install an authenticator app before you proceed. Most people install the authenticator app on their mobile phone. You can find a variety of such apps for your device, including Google Authenticator, Authy, Duo Mobile, Microsoft Authenticator, and 2FAS. You can choose any authenticator app for this procedure.
- The time settings on the device where you sign in to Ringba (such as your laptop) and the device where you access the authenticator app (such as your smartphone) must align completely, including date, time, and time zone.
Use the following steps to set up multi-factor authentication:
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In Ringba, navigate to Security > Multi-Factor Auth.
The Multi-Factor Authentication screen appears.
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Click Add Multi-Factor Authentication.
The Add Multi-Factor Authentication drawer opens.
- Open the authenticator app on your device and add a new authentication.
For example, in Google Authenticator, you click the + button in the lower right corner to add a new authentication. A screen appears where you choose to use the camera to capture a QR code or enter a setup key. - Choose the option to scan a QR code and then use your device to scan the code on your screen.
Note: The QR code in the screenshot above is only an example. You must scan the QR code you see in your own account to enable MFA successfully.
The app creates an authentication record for Ringba and shows a 6-digit MFA code. A new code appears every 30 seconds. - Enter the 6-digit MFA code from the app into the Validation Code field in Ringba and click Enable.
A success message appears.
From now on, when you sign in, Ringba prompts you to enter the 6-digit MFA code from your authenticator app.
Special Note for iPhone Users
If you use an iPhone or other Apple device, your device already has an authenticator app by default. It is called "Passwords". You can learn about the Passwords app on the Apple support site.
You can use the Passwords app with Ringba or you can install a different authenticator app. Either way, follow the instructions in the previous section to set your authenticator app to work with your Ringba account.
Your iPhone lets you skip opening the Passwords app and jump directly to the step of scanning the QR code from your camera app. If you decide to use your camera app, the device automatically sets up MFA in the Passwords app. When you sign in to Ringba, you must open the Passwords app to find the MFA code you need to sign in.
MFA FAQ and Troubleshooting
Why do I have to set up MFA?
MFA is a more secure approach to signing in to accounts. With MFA, no one can sign in to your account without both your password and a code from an authenticator app on your phone. MFA helps protect your account because, even if someone steals or hacks your password, the password alone is not enough to sign in to your account.
Can I just share my sing-in credentials with others?
No, Ringba does not allow sharing sign-in credentials. Sharing credentials is not practical anyway with MFA, since those sharing the credentials would not have access to the same authenticator app.
If a hacker gains access to your account through any user, they can cost you money, and Ringba cannot be responsible for your losses.
Fortunately, if you are an admin user, it is easy to invite any users or partners you want to your account at no additional cost to you or your partner. See Inviting a User for step-by-step instructions.
If you are a buyer or publisher who needs your own credentials for a partner's Ringba account, contact the account admin to invite you as a user.
What is an authenticator app?
Authenticator apps are available for free on your smartphone. You can use any authenticator app with Ringba, so if you already use an authenticator app to sign into a different software, you can simply add Ringba to the same authenticatorapp. Common authenticator apps include:
- Google Authenticator
- Authy
- Duo Mobile
- Microsoft Authenticator
- 2FAS
Tip: As a best practice, use an authenticator app on a separate device from where you sign in to Ringba. For example, if you use Ringba on your laptop, you can install the authenticator app on your smartphone. Using separate devices makes it harder for hackers to compromise your account because they would need access to the authenticator device to sign in.
I set up MFA on my iPhone, but now I can't find my code. How do I sign in?
If you are using an iPhone or other Apple product, your device might have set up your MFA to use the native Passwords app for authentication. Search your phone for an app called Passwords to see if a Ringba code appears there.
I have signed in with MFA before, but now it's failing. What's wrong?
If you previously set up MFA for your user and have been successfully using it until now, the problem might be a mismatch between the time settings on your computer and smartphone. Check to make sure both devices show the same date, time, and time zone and try to sign in again.
What if the MFA code doesn't work and I can't sign in?
If you still can't sign in, you can contact Ringba Support at support@ringba.com by email. All MFA-related issues must be resolved over email.
Send the email from the address of the user you are trying to sign in with. This helps the Ringba Support team to verify your identity.
What do I do if I lose my phone with my authenticator app?
If you lose access to the device with the authenticator app you use to sign in to Ringba, you can contact Ringba Support at support@ringba.com to request resetting MFA for your account. You must contact Ringba Support from the email address associated with your account.
See the Reset Multi-Factor Authentication section of the How do I get help with Ringba? article for step-by-step instructions.
What should I do if I need help?
If you have any questions or need additional help, please reach out to our support team via chat or email at support@ringba.com.