We use services on the Internet, most often without even knowing how they are arranged and function. Without thinking about how information about us is transmitted between one service or another, we simply make transitions from site to site, from one application to another. At the same time, of course, an instant exchange of information takes place between one or another server. To let you know a little more about how the transfer of information on the Internet is arranged, we are writing this article. In it we will tell you what auth key is, where it is used and what its role is in the daily work of each of us.
Auth key is ...
So, as can be understood from the abbreviation itself, the full form of this term is the phrase “authorization key”, which is translated from English as “authorization key”. This name fully reflects the role of this mechanism and its essence. The key itself is a code generated from 32 random characters that is used to authorize the user on third-party services.
You can explain what an auth key is: so that the service knows that you are you, it asks for your code sent by another service. Thus, among themselves, Internet resources exchange information about your identifier, which allows you to "recognize" you. At the same time, you will not need to be required to re-authorize, for example, by entering a username and password, or confirming with a password. By a unique key you are "recognized" even without your participation at one time. Conveniently, agree.
Where does auth key transfer apply?
After you figure out what auth key is, you should clarify the scope of its application. Using an example, you can understand this category in more detail and more clearly than just reading the definition.
Auth key identification number (id) is used in the most common form in the case of social networks and applications that work on their platform.
It is no secret that all the games and applications available to us on the VK network were created not by Vkontakte administrators, but by third-party developers. This means that some game is not physically hosted on the servers of a social network, but somewhere separately.
We go further: the task of the application is to execute those commands and tasks that the user who has redirected to his page poses before him. But how to carry out this process (user request from Vkontakte servers, addressed, say, to the Wormix game)? Very simple! The social network transmits your unique key - auth key (VK as an example will be the most accessible to each of us) - to the game. In turn, she checks your key with the key of the person who created your account and, if this parameter matches, you will be authorized. Interesting, right?
You do not need to enter a password and login, re-confirming yourself and logging in. No, everything happens so that the user does not even notice that he is accessing a third-party resource - the application.
How to find out my auth key?
About you figured out what auth key is. How to see it, and whether it can be done, we will consider in this paragraph of our article.
So, since the authorization key is transferred between the network and the application using your browser, you can of course find and see it with your own eyes. Moreover, this characteristic does not change and is your unique key when working with social networks (and not only).
To see her, you can go to the VK site and go to some application. Next, we need to refer to the source code of the page on which the game is placed - this is done using the "hot keys" Ctrl + U. By clicking them, you will see a white sheet with a lot of numbers and letters. This is the site code, its symbolic display. Here we need to look for the parameter "auth_key", so these words can begin to be driven in the search form on the page. By the way, you can call it by Ctrl + F combination. Next, the parameter that we described will be shown.
Why not publish your auth key anywhere!
Your authorization key is a unique parameter, in fact, allowing you to access the social network (and not only). In fact, this is data equivalent to login and password at the same time. Now you understand why it is not recommended to open it to strangers? If you leave this key somewhere on the network, it is quite possible that specialists who know what auth key is and who are more able to imitate it can use it for their own purposes. Why do you need this?
Manipulations with auth key
In fact, you can also manipulate the authorization key. At least that's what the players of some popular Vkontakte apps do. This is done as follows: you need to find out the user auth_key, who has more achievements than you, then you go to the server under his key. Thus, the service recognizes you as that player, and in fact you get into his account (in the game). For example, this is how they deceive in Wormix and "Tyuryag" - the most popular Vkontakte toys. The same manipulations are obviously possible with other applications.
True, we do not recommend doing this. If the authorization key is replaced with a view to fraud, it is illegal and immoral. In the same case, if we are talking about cheating games and other entertainment services, then doing this in general, in our opinion, is pointless. The essence of the game is to enjoy the process, not to cheat.