OTP Verification

for Authenticity :Leveraging

SMS & Email in secure
Authentication system
 Introduction
 O n e -Ti m e Pa s s w o rd ( O T P ) v e r i fi c a t i o n i s a
s e c u r i t y m e a s u re u s e d t o c o n fi rm a u s e r ' s
identity by generating a unique,
t e m p o r a r y p a s s w o rd t h a t i s v a l i d f o r a
single session or transaction. It is
commonly used in conjunction with other
authentication methods to enhance
s e c u r i t y.
Importance of authentication
 Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user or
system. It ensures that the entities are involved who they claim, to be
often requiring the presentation of credentials such as password,
biometrics or OTP.

 Authentication plays a critical role in security by preventing

unauthorized access to sensitive information & systems.it serves as the
first line of defense against cyber threats and helps establishes trust in
digital interactions.

 Common methods include passwords , security question multi factor

authentication(MFA) & OTP. Each method has unique strengths with OTP
providing an additional layer of security by ensuring that a user’s
verification information is time sensitive and single-use.
 Key- Features
Generation:
OTP is unique and
time-sensitive,
Each Delivery: OTPs are
sent to the user's
registered device via
Usage: The user
enters the received
OTP to complete the
Verification:
system checks the
entered OTP against
The

the generated one. If

ensuring that it SMS, email, or a authentication
they match, the user
cannot be reused. dedicated app. process.
is granted access.
 Benefits of email verification
Email communication can It ensures accurate contact
Email allows for flexible
enhance user trust as users information ,reduce fraud,
OTP delivery , accomm-
are accustomed to prevents unauthorized
odating users may not have
retrieving information account access & enhance
immediate access to their
from their inboxes. security .it also improves
phones. This style of
Engaging through email can communication reliability &
verification can cater to a
fosters positive perception user trust by validating
diverse range of user
of the security measures in email address during
preferences & situations.
places. signups or transaction
 objectives Cost-Effective:
Enhanced Security I: Enhanced Security II:
Implementing OTP
Provides an additional Integrate dual-method
verification is
layer of protection, OTP delivery(SMS and
relatively inexpensive
reducing the risk of Email) & Improve user
compared to other
unauthorized access. convenience.
security measures.
Methodology
 The OTP verification process involves generating a
unique, time-sensitive OTP and sending it to the user
via SMS, email, or push notification. The user enters the
OTP, which is validated against the stored one,
checking for expiration and prior usage. If valid, the
requested action proceeds. if invalid, the user is notified
and allowed to retry within rate limits. Additionally, logs
of attempts and suspicious activity are monitored to
enhance security, with cooldown periods after multiple
failed attempts.
 Methods
Use of flask web
SQLite database Secure OTP
framework & Twilio
Api :
for
delivery.
for managing user
SMS
data and OTP.
generation
delivery process.
&
Descriptio
 The n
OTP verification process involves the user
providing their email or phone number to request
verification (e.g., login, password reset). A secure 4-
digit OTP is generated randomly, typically using
methods like random.randint(1000,9999).The OTP is
sent to the user via Email(eg. Using sendGrid) and
SMS (eg. Using Twilio). The user enters the otp
received and the server validates it by checking if it
matches generated code to complete the
verification.
Result
 The result of OTP verification via email and SMS
enhances security by ensuring that only the
authorized user can access an account or
service. Upon entering the correct OTP, access is
granted, confirming the user's identity. If the OTP
is incorrect or expired, access is denied,
preventing unauthorized actions. This process
adds an extra layer of protection against identity
theft, fraud, and unauthorized access, ensuring
secure transactions and login attempts.
Conclusio
n
 OTP verification via email and SMS is a crucial
security measure that safeguards user
accounts and sensitive data. By requiring a
unique, time-sensitive code sent to a user’s
registered contact, it ensures that only
authorized individuals can access services or
complete actions. This method significantly
reduces the risk of unauthorized access,
enhancing overall security and trust for both
users and service providers.
Future work
 OTP verification via email and SMS could focus on
enhancing security by integrating advanced
technologies like multi-factor authentication (MFA)
and biometrics for additional layers of protection.
Improvements may include reducing delays in code
delivery, using AI to detect suspicious activity, and
offering more seamless, user-friendly authentication
methods. Additionally, exploring alternatives to
SMS, such as app-based authentication or push
notifications, may address vulnerabilities like SIM
swapping, further strengthening the reliability and
security of OTP verification.
Reference
s T.zemos, I., Fournaris, A.P., Sklavos, N.:
Security and efficiency analysis of one
time password techniques. In: PCI (2016)
 N. Harini and T. Padmanabhan, “2 Cauth: a
new two factor authentication scheme
using qr-code,” Int J Eng Tech., vol. 5, 2013
 Some references and resources mentioned
in the research paper
 Thank you
Vikash Kumar Sharma
Monika Gupta
Yadvendra
Galgotias University
School of computer Application & Technology