Enabling SMS Verification for Sign-Up Procedures in Moodle

Enhancing Moodle Enrollment with SMS Verification

In the dynamic realm of virtual learning, it is critical to guarantee safe and authentic user registration. The popular learning management system (LMS) Moodle has historically used email confirmation for account authentication. Nonetheless, the investigation of SMS-based confirmation is a result of the growing need for more reliable verification techniques. This method satisfies the need for mobile communication while also enhancing security. The integration of SMS verification into a bespoke Moodle plugin becomes a big task as more enterprises look to add similar capabilities.

The goal of this project is to develop a Moodle plugin that, when a user submits a form, sends them an SMS with a special number. To improve the security of the sign-up process, this code needs to be entered on the website in order to initiate the establishment of a new user account. This feature must be included in an open-source plugin that is mostly written in PHP and uses a MariaDB SQL backend. The development environment emphasizes a solution that makes use of AWS services, especially for SMS sending capabilities, and is built on a customized AWS VPC. This project draws attention to the difficulties and factors that must be taken into account while creating safe, effective, and user-friendly authentication systems for educational platforms.

Improving Moodle's User Verification

Adding SMS-based authentication to Moodle improves security while also improving user experience, particularly in situations where email connectivity may be erratic or less secure. This method makes excellent advantage of the fact that mobile phones are widely used to guarantee that only authorized users are able to create and activate their accounts. Integrating third-party messaging systems, like AWS SNS (Simple Notification Service), which enables programmatic text message delivery, is necessary for the implementation of SMS confirmation. The prompt verification of user registrations depends on the more direct and instantaneous form of user connection that this integration enables. By implementing these technologies, educational platforms may guarantee a safer and more concentrated learning environment by drastically lowering the frequency of spam accounts and unauthorized access.

Moreover, best practices for managing verification codes must be taken into account while implementing SMS confirmation in Moodle or any other educational platform. To reduce the possibility of abuse, these codes ought to have a time limit, usually expiring after a brief interval (such as ten minutes). It is important to pay close attention to security when storing these codes, especially when it comes to encryption both in transit (during the sending procedure) and at rest (in the database). Protecting this sensitive data requires encrypting the codes that are stored in the database and using a secure connection (SSL/TLS) for code transmission. This dual emphasis on security and functionality highlights how difficult and important it is to include SMS verification in contemporary educational technology, in line with broader trends in software development towards mobile-first approaches.

<?php
// Moodle custom authentication plugin skeleton
require_once('path/to/moodle/config.php');
require_once('path/to/aws/aws-autoloader.php');
use Aws\Sns\SnsClient;
use Aws\Exception\AwsException;

class custom_auth_plugin extends auth_plugin_base {
    // Constructor
    public function __construct() {
        $this->authtype = 'custom_auth';
        $this->config = get_config('auth/custom_auth');
    }

    // Send SMS function using AWS SNS
    private function send_sms($phone_number, $message) {
        $SnsClient = new SnsClient([
            'region' => 'your-region',
            'version' => 'latest',
            'credentials' => [
                'key' => 'your-aws-access-key-id',
                'secret' => 'your-aws-secret-access-key',
            ],
        ]);

        try {
            $result = $SnsClient->publish([
                'Message' => $message,
                'PhoneNumber' => $phone_number,
            ]);
            return $result;
        } catch (AwsException $e) {
            // Error handling
            error_log($e->getMessage());
            return false;
        }
    }

    // Function to handle form submission and initiate SMS sending
    public function user_signup($user, $notify=true) {
        // Generate a unique SMS confirmation code
        $confirmation_code = rand(100000, 999999);
        // Store code in database with a timestamp
        // Assumes existence of a table for storing these codes
        $sql = "INSERT INTO mdl_user_sms_confirm (userid, sms_code, timecreated) VALUES (?, ?, ?)";
        $DB->execute($sql, array($user->id, $confirmation_code, time()));

        // Send SMS
        $this->send_sms($user->phone1, "Your Moodle confirmation code is: $confirmation_code");

        // Additional logic for handling email confirmation alongside SMS
    }
}
?>

Enhancing Moodle's Authentication with Text Message Support

By adding SMS verification to Moodle's authentication procedure, a strong security layer and an easier-to-use enrollment process are introduced. This technique, which is also known as two-factor authentication (2FA), greatly reduces the possibility of unwanted account access by requiring a physical device to be owned by the user in addition to the usual login credentials of username and password. The reasoning for SMS verification is based on its ubiquitous accessibility as well as security advantages. Because mobile phones are so common, people from a wide range of socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds can easily and inclusively utilize this method of authentication. In light of broader digital trends, the move towards security methods that are mobile-centric highlights the significance of safeguarding sensitive educational data in a world that is becoming more interconnected.

Understanding a few crucial elements is necessary for the technical implementation of SMS verification within Moodle. These include the use of external APIs for SMS delivery, database management for code storage and validation, and the smooth integration of these components into Moodle's current infrastructure. Notable is the selection of AWS SNS for SMS delivery, which provides scalable and dependable messaging capabilities suitable for a range of educational institutions. Furthermore, the creation and implementation of this kind of plugin within Moodle's open-source community highlight the platform's adaptability and the active community's commitment to its continuous improvement. By working together, we can not only foster innovation but also make sure that Moodle is always at the forefront of educational technology, meeting the changing demands of both teachers and students.