Authenticator activity

Question

I keep getting multiple authentication requests by an unknown source. None of them show up on my recent activity. Where are all these authenticator requests coming from and why are they not showing up on my activity when I click on recent activity in the authenticator app? I used to even see attempted logins from all around the world about 20 times a day, but those no longer show up either. They stopped showing up about a year ago.

Answer 1

Hello

If other people know your username, they can go online and use the forget password to trigger the authentication ask. This will not log as an attempt or successful log in in your activity. While your account is safe, this can get annoying. Consider doing the following - assuming this is personal Microsoft account?

Go to your Microsoft account online https://account.live.com> Sign in > Your info > Sign in preference. Add an alias - You have two options here:

Create new: this will allow you to use the native domain outlook.com to create a new alias.

Add existing: this will allow you to add a 3rd party email address, such as yahoo, gmail, as long as they are not already associated with another Microsoft account.

Once added, make this new alias your primary alias, do NOT delete the old alias. Then at the bottom, click on "Change sign in preference". On the next page, uncheck the box for the old alias. This means, from now one, the old alias cannot be used to sign into your Microsoft account, but it can be still used to receive emails, etc.

Answer 2

It seems like you are experiencing issues with receiving multiple authentication requests that are not showing up in your recent activity on the Microsoft Authenticator app. This could be due to several reasons:

1. Changes in App Functionality: The Microsoft Authenticator app may have undergone updates or changes in functionality that affect how authentication requests are logged or displayed. It's worth checking if there have been any recent updates to the app that might have altered its behavior.
2. Authentication Logs: The sign-in logs for your account may not be reflecting all authentication attempts. This could be due to the way the app aggregates or displays this information. If you used to see attempted logins from various locations and they have stopped, it might be related to changes in your account security settings or the way authentication requests are processed.
3. Security Settings: Review your security settings in your Microsoft account. Changes in these settings can impact how and when you receive authentication requests. For example, if you have enabled certain security features, it may limit the visibility of certain requests.
4. Potential Security Issues: If you are receiving multiple authentication requests from unknown sources, it could indicate that someone is attempting to access your account. It is advisable to review your account security, change your password, and enable additional security measures such as multi-factor authentication if not already in place.

If the issue persists, consider reaching out to Microsoft support for further assistance, as they can provide more specific insights regarding your account activity and the Authenticator app's functionality.

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References:

• Microsoft Invest - Troubleshoot Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
• Learn about the sign-in log activity details