Block.one’s EOSIO Labs has released Reference Authenticator Apps for iOS and Chrome. The development was announced in a blog post published on May 29.
Per the post, the newly implemented developments address improvements to the security, interoperability and usability of authenticators by contributing working code and examples. Authenticators are software-based tools that implement two-step verification services by generating a secret key for each user.
The EOSIO Reference iOS Authenticator App is purportedly designed to enable users to sign in and approve transactions from web applications running in Mobile Safari and other native iOS apps on the same device.
The EOSIO Reference Chrome Extension Authenticator allows users to sign in and approve transactions from web applications running in Google Chrome on desktop, while key management and signing take place in the Chrome extension secured by a passphrase, the post explains.
The company further notes that Authenticator Apps do not communicate with EOSIO nodes directly, being entirely agnostic. All the data which is required to display and sign a transaction is passed in by the app that proposes the transaction.
As previously reported, decentralization might be one of block.one’s cryptocurrency EOS’ weakest spots. In November 2018, its governance model was exposed, as evidence suggesting that some confirmed transactions were reversed surfaced on social media, which puzzled some pundits as well as ordinary crypto enthusiasts.
Further, in October 2018, allegations arose accusing the platform’s major Block Producers — entities that essentially get to “mine” the EOS blockchain after being elected — of “mutual voting” and “collusion,” suggesting that the entire model of governance might be corrupt.
As of May 20, white hat hackers reportedly earned $32,000 in bounties starting from March 28 by reporting security holes in cryptocurrency and blockchain projects, wherein block.one issued a $10,000 reward.