HOTP: An HMAC-Based One-Time Password Algorithm

TLDR: This document describes an algorithm to generate one-time password values, based on Hashed Message Authentication Code (HMAC), which will facilitate adoption of two-factor authentication on the Internet by enabling interoperability across commercial and open-source implementations.

Abstract: This document describes an algorithm to generate one-time password values, based on Hashed Message Authentication Code (HMAC). A security analysis of the algorithm is presented, and important parameters related to the secure deployment of the algorithm are discussed. The proposed algorithm can be used across a wide range of network applications ranging from remote Virtual Private Network (VPN) access, Wi-Fi network logon to transaction-oriented Web applications. This work is a joint effort by the OATH (Open AuTHentication) membership to specify an algorithm that can be freely distributed to the technical community. The authors believe that a common and shared algorithm will facilitate adoption of two-factor authentication on the Internet by enabling interoperability across commercial and open-source implementations. This memo provides information for the Internet community.