Easy Steps To Enable Two-Factor Authentication Virtualizor

This guide, brought to you by Orcacore, will walk you through the process of enabling Two-Factor Authentication in your Virtualizor panel. Implementing this security measure significantly strengthens user account protection. For enhanced security, enabling Easy Steps To Enable Two-Factor Authentication Virtualizor is highly recommended within your Virtualizor environment. You might also find our post on How to add users in Virtualizor helpful.

Two-Factor Authentication Virtualizor (sometimes referred to as two-step verification) is a widely adopted security protocol designed to enhance the security of your account or panel. This method requires users to provide two different authentication factors to verify their identity. Typically, after correctly entering your login credentials (username and password), you’ll be prompted for a code. This code can be delivered via email, SMS, or generated by an authenticator application like Google Authenticator. You can download Google Authenticator from the links below:

Google authenticator for Andriod
Google authenticator for IOS

Let’s explore the Easy Steps To Enable Two-Factor Authentication Virtualizor panel.

Step 1 – Where is Two-Factor Authentication in Virtualizor?

Begin by logging into your Virtualizor panel using your server’s IP address and port 4085 (e.g., ServerIP:4085) in a web browser. After successfully logging in, navigate to "Configuration >> Two Factor Authentication". This will display the Two-Factor Authentication settings page as shown below:

Step 2 – How to enable Two-factor authentication?

Once you’ve located the Two-Factor Authentication settings, you can choose your preferred authentication method from the "Select Preference" drop-down menu. By default, "None" is selected, indicating that Two-Factor Authentication is disabled. You can choose either "Email OTP" or "Enable App" to activate Two-Factor Authentication in Virtualizor.

Step 2-1 – Enable Email OTP authentication

Selecting "Email OTP" will present you with the following configuration page:

The OTP (One-Time Password) will be sent to the email address configured during the Virtualizor installation. You can modify this email address by navigating to "Configuration >> Master Settings".

Click on the "Email Code" button to trigger the generation and sending of a verification code to your email address. Retrieve the code from your email inbox, enter it into the "Confirmation code" field, and click "Submit" to save and activate Email OTP-based Two-Factor Authentication. Subsequent logins will require a new code sent to your email.

Step 2-2 – Enable App

To enable Two-Factor Authentication using an authenticator application in Virtualizor, we’ll use Google Authenticator. Download and install the application from the links provided at the beginning of this article.

If you select "Enable App" in the "Select Preference" menu, you will be presented with the following page:

Open the installed Google Authenticator application on your smartphone and tap the "+" icon. You’ll see two options:

• Scan a QR code: Use your phone’s camera to scan the QR code displayed on the Virtualizor Two-Factor Authentication page.
• Enter a setup key: Manually enter the secret key provided on the Virtualizor page into the Google Authenticator app.

Once the app is configured (either by scanning the QR code or entering the setup key), enter the current Confirmation Code displayed in the Google Authenticator app into the corresponding field on the Virtualizor page and click "Submit" to save the changes.

Congratulations! You have successfully enabled Easy Steps To Enable Two-Factor Authentication Virtualizor panel.

Conclusion

In this article, we covered the Easy Steps To Enable Two-Factor Authentication Virtualizor panel using two methods: Email OTP and Authenticator App. Remember that you need to have access to either the configured email account or the authenticator app each time you log in, as you will require a new code.

If you have any questions or encounter any issues during the process, please feel free to leave a comment.

Alternative Solutions for Two-Factor Authentication in Virtualizor

While the provided method is effective, here are two alternative approaches to enhance Two-Factor Authentication in Virtualizor:

1. Implementing a Custom SMS Gateway for OTP Delivery:

Instead of relying solely on email for OTP delivery, you can integrate a custom SMS gateway. This offers an alternative channel for delivering authentication codes, which can be more reliable in certain scenarios, especially if email delivery is inconsistent. This involves writing a script that interacts with an SMS API provider.

Explanation:

This method requires you to have an account with an SMS gateway provider (e.g., Twilio, Nexmo, or similar). You’ll need to write a script (e.g., in PHP or Python) that uses the SMS gateway’s API to send the OTP to the user’s phone number. This script would then need to be integrated into the Virtualizor login process, replacing the standard email OTP functionality. This usually involves modifying Virtualizor’s core files, so it’s important to back up your system before making any changes.

Conceptual Code Example (PHP):

<?php

// SMS Gateway Credentials (replace with your actual credentials)
$account_sid = "ACxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx";
$auth_token  = "your_auth_token";
$twilio_number = "+1234567890"; // Your Twilio phone number

// User's phone number and OTP
$user_phone_number = "+11234567891"; // The user's registered phone number
$otp = generate_otp(); // Function to generate a random OTP

require __DIR__ . '/twilio-php/src/Twilio/autoload.php'; // Path to Twilio library

use TwilioRestClient;

// Send the SMS
$client = new Client($account_sid, $auth_token);

try {
    $message = $client->messages
                      ->create($user_phone_number,
                               array(
                                   'from' => $twilio_number,
                                   'body' => "Your Virtualizor OTP is: " . $otp
                               )
                      );

    echo "SMS sent with SID: " . $message->sid;
} catch (Exception $e) {
    echo "Error: " . $e->getMessage();
}

function generate_otp($length = 6){
    $characters = '0123456789';
    $charactersLength = strlen($characters);
    $randomString = '';
    for ($i = 0; $i < $length; $i++) {
        $randomString .= $characters[rand(0, $charactersLength - 1)];
    }
    return $randomString;
}

?>

Important Considerations:

• This is a simplified example. Error handling, security best practices (e.g., rate limiting), and proper integration with Virtualizor’s authentication process are crucial.
• Modifying Virtualizor core files can make future updates more difficult. Consider creating a plugin or extension if Virtualizor supports it.
• SMS gateway providers charge for SMS messages.

2. Integration with a Centralized Identity Provider (IdP) using SAML or OAuth:

For larger deployments, integrating Virtualizor with a centralized Identity Provider (IdP) like Keycloak, Okta, or Azure AD can provide a more robust and manageable authentication solution. This allows users to authenticate using their existing corporate credentials and leverage the IdP’s security features, including multi-factor authentication.

Explanation:

SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) and OAuth (Open Authorization) are standard protocols for federated identity management. Integrating Virtualizor with an IdP using one of these protocols allows Virtualizor to delegate authentication to the IdP. When a user tries to log in to Virtualizor, they are redirected to the IdP’s login page. After successful authentication (which may involve multi-factor authentication at the IdP level), the IdP sends an assertion back to Virtualizor, confirming the user’s identity. Virtualizor then grants access to the user.

Conceptual Steps:

1. Choose an Identity Provider: Select an IdP that supports SAML or OAuth (e.g., Keycloak, Okta, Azure AD).
2. Configure the IdP: Configure the IdP to recognize Virtualizor as a relying party (SAML) or client application (OAuth). You’ll need to provide Virtualizor’s metadata URL or client ID and secret.
3. Configure Virtualizor: Configure Virtualizor to use the IdP for authentication. This typically involves installing a plugin or modifying Virtualizor’s configuration files to point to the IdP’s metadata URL or authorization endpoint.
4. Test the Integration: Test the integration by attempting to log in to Virtualizor using a user account managed by the IdP.

Benefits:

• Centralized Authentication: Simplifies user management and improves security by centralizing authentication in a single location.
• Enhanced Security: Leverages the IdP’s security features, including multi-factor authentication, password policies, and account lockout policies.
• Single Sign-On (SSO): Allows users to access Virtualizor and other applications with a single set of credentials.

Implementing these alternative solutions requires a deeper understanding of authentication protocols and system administration. However, they offer significant benefits in terms of security, scalability, and manageability. Remember to thoroughly research and test any changes before implementing them in a production environment. Easy Steps To Enable Two-Factor Authentication Virtualizor are important, but exploring advanced options can greatly improve security.