There are countless ways to authenticate yourself these days. I still find the best way is when I don’t need to type my account name or password. Your phone has become far more important in the authentication process. Adobe’s was the first ID Access app that I have used. I find it very reassuring each time I locate that number on my iPhone and then match it in my laptop or desktop computer.

As with many others, I have serious privacy concerns with any authentication app that is “required” to access a program or service for which I have already established my security credentials. Adobe is atrocious and insidious with this, and simply deleting the app will not remove it from your account. There are multiple steps needed first to set it up, and just as many to remove it. It’s much more frustrating than secure, other than you may become so irritated that you close your Adobe account entirely, and we’re it not required for some of my clients, I would.

Adobe’s subscription service has made all of its products trash— cumbersome and an annoyance to use. Adobe repeatedly make me sign in with password to use software ON MY OWN COMPUTER—that I ALREADY PAID FOR THE RIGHTS TO USE! And it can’t even keep me logged in. Every time I go to edit a photo it makes me login again. So then I try to get this terrible app, but it’s only available for iPhone in the Apple store—not a PC—so then I have to figure out GOogle Play —but when I go to install it there on my computer—it says “YOU DONT HAVE ANY DEVICEs” and gives me a whole host of error messages about needing to set up and associate my different gmail accounts with Google play first and presumably any time I’m logged into a different email account, it won’t let me log in to ADOBE SOFTWARE ALREADY INSTALLED ON MY COMPUTER THAT I HAVE THE RIGHTS TO just because Adobe has become a control freak out for repeat money grabs that requires constant logins and subscription models instead of just letting us pay one time. Adobe continues to go downhill. Not to forget Adobe acrobat which now hides all the menus and requires 10 clicks to do anything instead of 1-2 clicks in prior versions.

PS Express has a lot of potential as a photo editing app, but the experience is frustrating due to some major flaws. First and foremost, there is no reliable support feature to address user issues, which is extremely disappointing for an app with a premium subscription model. Additionally, the premium account system is poorly designed—every time I log in, it requires me to repurchase the annual plan, even though I’ve already paid for it. The “Restore Purchase” option doesn’t work, leaving me stuck in an endless loop of payment prompts.While the editing tools themselves are decent, these technical and subscription issues overshadow the app’s functionality. It’s hard to recommend PS Express when basic usability and customer support are so lacking. Unless these problems are resolved, I’d suggest looking for alternative apps.

I haven’t had any issues with my Adobe since I started using the Adobe Authentication Tool my only concern is that the software isn’t really optimized for the new version of Adobe. Also I wish there were a way to get rid of the password and use a two factor authentication tool that via Adobe Authentication, Push notifications etc. this way no one can log into your account and alter your account and delete your documents or alter them without your knowledge, consent or permission. I have faced many legal issues do to individuals gaining access to my personal account as well as others that have not been verified by myself. My concern is that we need strong security for Adopting the Privacy Protection Act.

Forces you to also add SMS authentication. Which is an outdated and risky form of 2FA. Phone numbers are easy to hack. This will put your information more at risk.UPDATE: Adobe responded to this in the most tone deaf way that misses the point entirely. ”The SMS requirement is to make sure your account is accessible via 2FA and your password is safely recoverable in case your phone gets lost or broken”That was basically the purpose of ANY 2FA. But the SMS method of 2FA is an outdated and dangerous form of 2FA that actually leaves you more vulnerable. Because of wireless carriers have a communal porting system for phone numbers and all you need is to hack the pin, your phone can be broken into super easily. Oh sure they can be shut down after an hour. But an hour is plenty of time to reset passwords. That’s why all modern methods of 2FA include either Google Authenticator or Authy, using a device-necessary constantly changing 6 digit pin. Or a hardware security key or dongle. Smart people who have employed such methods would do well to remove their phone number and SMS authentication as a method. What’s so horrendous about this from Adobe is they don’t even offer another 2FA option. They force you to use this outdated dangerous method that progressive companies have all moved on from.