Clef (app)

'''Clef''' was a San Francisco-based technology company, known for developing a mobile app that created a two-factor authentication for websites.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/02/19/clef-offers-two-factor-authentication-without-all-the-codes/ | title=Clef Offers Two-Factor Authentication Without All The Codes | publisher=TechCrunch | date=19 February 2015 | accessdate=21 July 2016 | author=Kyle Russell}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wired.com/2016/06/hey-stop-using-texts-two-factor-authentication/ | title=So Hey You Should Stop Using Texts for Two-Factor Authentication | publisher=Wired | date=26 June 2016 | accessdate=21 July 2016 | author=Andy Greenberg}}</ref> It allowed users to access sites with a single login password management service which stores encrypted passwords in private accounts.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/18/new-clef-plug-in-lets-you-forget-about-your-password/?_r=0 | title=New Clef Plug-In Lets You Forget About Your Password | publisher=NyTimes | date=18 December 2013 | accessdate=21 July 2016 | author=Nicole Perlroth}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.labnol.org/internet/wordpress-login-without-password/28878/ | title=Login to your WordPress Website without Typing the Password | publisher=Labnol | date=7 May 2015 | accessdate=21 July 2016}}</ref> It had a standard verification method that requires access to data on the mobile phone to confirm the user's identity.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.eastbaytimes.com/bay-area-news/ci_29749358/oakland-drawing-more-tech-startups | title=Oakland drawing more tech startups | publisher=East Bay Times | date=4 October 2016 | accessdate=21 July 2016 | author=Marisa Kendall}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://thenextweb.com/insider/2016/03/31/5-technologies-will-flip-world-authentication-head/#gref | title=5 authentication methods putting passwords to shame | publisher=TheNextWeb | accessdate=21 July 2016 | author=Ben Dickson| date=31 March 2016 }}</ref> The application required a Wi-Fi or mobile network, and the user could log in by scanning the computer screen with their phone.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gizmag.com/clef-new-password-alternative/36197/ | title=Clef wants to change the way we log into websites | publisher=GizMag | date=22 February 2015 | accessdate=21 July 2016 | author=David Nield}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.snapmunk.com/startups-technology-will-probably-kill-password/ | title=Startups & Technology That Will Probably Kill The Password | publisher=SnapMunk | date=5 July 2016 | accessdate=21 July 2016 | author=Krystle Vermes}}</ref>

== History == Clef was founded in 2013 by Mark Hudnall, B. Byrne and Jesse Pollak.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/09/24/oakland-tech/ | title=Oakland To Tech: Please Don't Screw This Up Like Last Time | publisher=TechCrunch | date=24 September 2015 | accessdate=21 July 2016 | author=Kim Mai Cutler}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://oaklandlocal.com/2014/04/oaktech-clef-stop-using-passwords/ | title=Oaktech: Oakland mobile start-up Clef ends need for password | publisher=OaklandLocal | date=2 April 2014 | accessdate=21 July 2016 | author=Mariah Carle | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829034852/http://oaklandlocal.com/2014/04/oaktech-clef-stop-using-passwords/ | archive-date=29 August 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref> It raised $1.6 million in seed funding in November 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Clef Secures $1.6M in Seed Funding|url=http://www.finsmes.com/2014/11/clef-secures-1-6m-in-seed-funding.html|last=FinSMEs|date=2014-11-18|website=FinSMEs|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-04}}</ref> Clef integrated with many websites and applications, including WordPress. On March 17, 2017, Clef announced they would no longer support the plugin after June 6, 2017; Clef was acquired by Authy, another 2FA service, which later got acquired by Twilio.<ref>{{Cite web|title=When two-factor authentication app Clef shuts down in June, its staff will join Authy|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/17/when-two-factor-authentication-app-clef-shuts-down-in-june-its-staff-will-join-authy/|website=TechCrunch|date=17 March 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-04}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist|1}}

Category:Companies based in San Francisco Category:Mobile applications