If you’re a developer, chances are that you have at least one OAuth key. OAuth keys are used to authenticate requests from other websites or apps and can be used for secure login, API access and more. However, as with any kind of security mechanism, there’s always the risk that someone else could get hold of your key and use it maliciously. And while most developers will change their keys regularly – especially if they work on multiple projects at once – sometimes they forget about how they were created in the first place! Here are some tips on how to make the most out of OAuth keys:
Don’t just create an OAuth key and assume you’re done with it
You should never just create an OAuth key and assume you’re done with it. The secret behind the success of OAuth keys is making sure they are used properly. Which means not sharing them with people who don’t need them.
Here are some tips for keeping your it safe:
- Don’t share your OAuth keys with anyone except those who need them for their own apps or services. For example, if someone else wants to access your account on behalf of their app.
- If a website requires users to log into an app in order for them to access content on that site. Make sure that site checks whether each user has already logged in before allowing them access (and vice versa). This prevents people from getting inside accounts without permission because they haven’t actually logged in yet. Which would defeat the purpose of using this technology in the first place!
Change your OAuth keys regularly
You should change your OAuth keys regularly. This is especially important if your app is updated frequently. As it’s easy to forget that the API you are using has been changed and the new key will no longer work with it. If you have multiple apps that use the same API, don’t forget to update all of them as well!
Check where your OAuth keys are being used, and delete the ones that aren’t in use
Checking where your OAuth keys are being used is an easy process. Just export them from the app or website in question. This will give you a list of all of the apps or websites that have access to them. As well as it gives you any security warnings about whether or not those applications are trustworthy.
If there’s anything wrong with any of these applications then don’t use those credentials! You can also remove all other accounts associated with them (like Facebook accounts). So they won’t be able to use their OAuth key again unless they find another way around this restriction. For example by creating new accounts manually after deleting others’ existing ones (though this isn’t always possible).
Make sure other people who are working on the same project know how to access the OAuth keys they need
Make sure other people who are working on the same project as you know how to access the OAuth keys they need.
- Make sure everyone knows where the OAuth keys are stored and how to access them. If you’re using a third-party service make sure that all of your team members have permission to view these details in case something goes awry and someone needs help troubleshooting issues with their own accounts.
If you have a project that requires multiple people to access the same set of OAuth keys, consider using a password manager like NinjaAuth. These services can generate new passwords for each user and securely store them in one place. So that everyone has access to the information they need.
Make sure you know where your OAuth keys are stored and how they’re being used
- Make sure you know where your OAuth keys are stored and how they’re being used.
- If you’re using an existing project, make sure that the OAuth keys are kept in a safe place and can only be accessed by authorized people.
Your OAuth keys should be treated like passwords
Your OAuth keys should be treated like passwords: change them regularly and avoid using them unnecessarily. Don’t use the same OAuth key for multiple services, nor do you want to use your key for anything that is not related to your project or research. Doing so could put you at risk of having the wrong person access information about something else entirely (think: a compromised Facebook account).
When you create a new OAuth key, it will be using a secure random string of characters. However, if you ever need to change that key for any reason, be sure to use the same process as before: send an email from your personal account with a request to generate a new one.
Conclusion
OAuth keys are an important part of any developer’s toolkit, and they need to be managed carefully. So that you can use them as intended. They provide a way for users to access your APIs without sharing extra information with anyone else on your team, which makes them ideal for many types of applications.
