The one app that never fails to ruin my perfect day is Duo Mobile – and honestly, it’s gotten too good at it.

Owned by Cisco Systems Inc., Duo Mobile is a multi-factor authentication app that provides students with an extra layer of protection to their SJSUOne account, according to a San José State IT webpage. 

MFA means you need more than just a password to log in – it’s that extra step, like entering a code or approving a push notification, to prove it’s really you, according to the AWS Webpage. 

The definition of MFA is multi-factor authentication, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. 

One of the benefits of MFA is that it reduces security risks.

An example of this is minimizing human errors, according to the AWS Webpage. 

In today’s world, almost everything we do is online – from banking to using apps and storing files. 

That means both people and businesses have a lot of personal information out there.

These days, keeping your information safe online is a big deal. Both people and companies store tons of private data on the internet, which makes it easy for hackers to go after.

Duo Mobile is a big joke.

Every time I log into MySJSU or Canvas, I get the “Check for a Duo Push” notification and I absolutely feel my soul leave my body waiting for that push to load. 

It acts like I’m logging in from a top-secret underground bunker instead of my bedroom. 

When I finally log in, the session times out after 15 minutes of inactivity.

I’m not saying security isn’t important; I get that universities and companies need to protect private information and that’s completely fair. 

But what’s the cost?

Duo locks me out of my own education when my phone or laptop is dead.
There are a lot of different modes of verification from Duo that users can use.

A user can use touch ID by using a fingerprint sensor on a MacBook. 

The user can use a security key or they can receive a one-time password in a text message or phone call from Duo, according to the Duo Guide Authentication webpage. 

If I’m using the same device, same Wi-Fi network and same browser, why am I being asked to verify my identity over and over? 

Every time something goes wrong, students are forced to flood the SJSU IT help desk because they can’t log in. 

If students need help with Duo Mobile, the SJSU IT desk will be able to provide assistance, according to the SJSUIT webpage. 

IT will provide students with login support through zoom meetings.

Students can also visit the service desk on the first floor of Clark Hall if they need assistance. Since a student will be logging in and the MFA deals with account security, the IT Service Desk has to verify the student first before proceeding, according to the SJSU IT Webpage.

My experience at the SJSU help desk was excellent.

I went to them because I was having trouble logging in and setting up a Duo Mobile account, and they were able to walk me through the setup process. 

The whole Duo Mobile security feature makes my life harder in a sense because I have to re-authenticate myself.

Until it catches up, it’s going to stay the app that I love to hate because it is a daily reminder that in a world full of smart technology, some systems still manage to stay broken.

Duo Mobile acts like a digital hall monitor that doesn’t trust you, even after you’ve logged in from the same device a hundred times.

College students like myself already deal with enough stress: exams, projects, job applications and trying to stay organized. 

The last thing we need is another obstacle just to access the tools we rely on every day.