# Microsoft Authenticator: how AI models rank it, November 2026

Gane Index, November 2026 Edition. Named in 19 judge labels across 2 categories by 11 of 14 models. Page: https://www.gane.ai/index/it/vendors/microsoft-authenticator

## Standing by category

| Category | Share | Rank | Negative rate | Labels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Multi-factor authentication](https://www.gane.ai/index/it/identity/multi-factor-authentication/index.md) | 5% | 6 | 28% | 18 |
| [Client-side protection](https://www.gane.ai/index/it/security/client-side-protection/index.md) | 0% | 80 | 0% | 1 |

## What the models said for it

- "Absolute lowest cost, 1-10 users, no central management needed: Roll out Microsoft Authenticator / Google Authenticator TOTP" (Muse Glimmer 30B, MFA)
- "The most cost-effective option is authenticator apps like: Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, Authy" (Claude Haiku 4.5, MFA)
- "If you're already using Microsoft 365, start with Microsoft Authenticator for free." (Mistral Small, MFA)
- "Very good: Authenticator apps (e.g., Microsoft Authenticator, Authy, or Google Authenticator) with number matching" (Grok 4.20, MFA)

## And against it

- "Cybercriminals exploit push-based MFA apps (like Microsoft Authenticator) by bombarding users with authentication requests until they accidentally approve one" (Claude Haiku 4.5, MFA)
- "Push-based MFA (e.g., Microsoft Authenticator without number matching, Duo Push, Okta Verify) is vulnerable to: MFA Fatigue / Push Bombing attacks" (DeepSeek V4 Flash, MFA)
- "Examples: Google Authenticator, Authy, 1Password, Microsoft Authenticator ... Key Risk: Phishing via Adversary-in-the-Middle (AitM)" (Gemini 3.5 Flash, MFA)
- "Limitations: No central admin console, limited enterprise features, no phishing resistance" (Kimi K2, MFA)

## By model

| Model | First choice | Alternative | Mention | Warning | Labels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Haiku 4.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| GPT-5.4 mini | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Gemini 3.5 Flash | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Perplexity Sonar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grok 4.20 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Mistral Small | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| DeepSeek V4 Flash | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Llama 4 Maverick | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Qwen 3.7 Flash | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Kimi K2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| GLM 4.7 FlashX | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| MiniMax M2.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| GPT-6 Luna | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Muse Glimmer 30B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |

## Sources returned with these answers

The sites and pages cited by the answers that named Microsoft Authenticator, from 30 of the 46 answers that named it (only the models that return a source list).

### Domains cited

- cisa.gov: 15
- aimultiple.com: 14
- techrepublic.com: 14
- duo.com: 13
- okta.com: 10
- g2.com: 9
- encomputers.com: 8
- cheatsheetseries.owasp.org: 7
- cmitsolutions.com: 7
- microsoft.com: 7 (its own site)

### Pages cited

- https://aimultiple.com/mfa-solutions: 14
- https://techrepublic.com/article/best-multi-factor-authentication-solutions: 14
- https://cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-01/fact-sheet-implementing-phishing-resistant-mfa-508c.pdf: 8
- https://encomputers.com/2024/05/best-multi-factor-authentication-small-businesses: 8
- https://cheatsheetseries.owasp.org/cheatsheets/Multifactor_Authentication_Cheat_Sheet.html: 7
- https://cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/fact-sheet-implementing-phishing-resistant-mfa-508c.pdf: 7
- https://expertinsights.com/identity-and-access-management/the-top-multi-factor-authentication-mfa-solutions-for-business: 6
- https://microsoft.com/en-us/security/business/identity-access/microsoft-entra-mfa-multi-factor-authentication: 6

## In its own words

What Microsoft Authenticator's own pages state, read 2026-10-05. Stated by the vendor, not checked by the index.

- Positioning: Protect your personal and business data from outside breaches by securely logging into any account with the Microsoft Authenticator app. (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/mobile-authenticator-app)
- For: personal and business (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/mobile-authenticator-app)

## Record

- Method: https://www.gane.ai/index/it/methodology
- License: CC BY 4.0. Cite as Gane Index, November 2026 Edition, www.gane.ai/index/it.