Password-less Authentication: The Future of Secure Access

Passwords have been used by individuals for verification of identities and safe access for thousands of years. Although verbal passwords were previously in use in ancient Rome and medieval guilds, Fernando Corbató developed the first digital password sixty years ago. Unsurprisingly, 10% of users choose one of the top 25 weakest passwords, including “123456,” while 80% of users use the same password for several accounts.

So, how can we solve this problem? Is there a world in which passwords don’t exist? A password-less future is a joke for some businesses, but it’s already here for others. Now, let’s talk about password-less authentication.

What is Passwordless Authentication

Users can access a system, network, or application using Passwordless authentication, which eliminates the need for knowledge-based elements like a password, security question, or PIN. As an alternative to performing verification using a collection of data, users must supply something they already own, like a hardware device or biometric verification.

As per Statista, passwordless authentication is expected to reach $25.2 billion by 2025 and gradually reach $53.6 billion by 2030. As per the 2023 Workforce Authentication Report by FIDO Alliance, 92% of organizations intend to transition to passwordless technology, and 95% of them are presently using some kind of passwordless experience within their organizations.

The two primary categories of ownership for passwordless authentication examples are as follows:

• Possession: Mobile devices, smart cards, hardware tokens, USB devices, badges, and software tokens are a few examples of possession-based authentication. Although some people may consider so-called “magic links” to be the third ownership category they can also fall under possession because they are email links sent to the device.
• Biometrics: Anything about distinct physical traits, such as voice, facial, fingerprint, or eye recognition, is an example of biometric authentication. For instance, the new iPhone allows users to authenticate themselves and obtain access by using either facial recognition or a fingerprint scanner.

Can facial authentication be used instead of passwords?

Password face authentication is seen as more secure than passwords since it is more difficult to spoof or steal someone’s face than a password. Furthermore, biometric authentication, such as facial recognition, verifies that the user is physically present and that no hackers are attempting to get access. However, facial recognition technology is not always reliable, and photographs or videos of a user’s face can be spoofed.

Facia’s facial recognition technology allows you to go beyond passwords! Just take a few photos of your face from different angles and lighting, and Facia will create a unique “face template” for you. It’s a simple and secure way to register, making your business safer and hassle-free.

How does passwordless authentication work

Passwordless authentication is frequently used alongside multi-factor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on solutions. Here are a few passwordless authentication methods:

• Biometrics: Biometrics such as facial recognition can be used for passwordless authentication such as in Apple iPhones.
• One-Time Codes (OTC) and Passwords (OTP): OTC and OTP work in different ways. End-users are sent a unique code to their phones by SMS or email, which they must enter to log in. These unique codes often have a defined expiry date.
• Magic Link: Many regard this as the future foolproof passwordless authentication technique, and it is gaining popularity in B2B applications. Users input the email address or user ID linked with their account. They receive an email with a URL that allows them to visit the app or website.
• Unique Authenticators: This method involves authenticating from a third-party Authenticator app (i.e. Google Authenticator). When an administrator configures an authentication app for a certain website or service, the secret key is made available to the user via a secure channel. End users must utilize their preferred application to authenticate their identity. This approach is MFA-compatible.

ALSO READ: THE MOST OVERUSED PASSWORD AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

Benefits of passwordless authentication

Every step you take to authenticate your website or app without a password can have an instant impact on your clients and business. Passwordless authentication can help you avoid security risks caused by inappropriate password selection and maintenance. It reduces the concerns about personal security risks and the frustration of forgetting passwords.

Challenges

Password removal from a company’s security culture might be challenging, if not impossible, due to outdated systems that rely on passwords. 74% of security professionals believe that end users select passwords because they know them. Furthermore, there are other hurdles to establishing passwordless authentication:

• Time required for implementation.
• Lack of employee skills or knowledge.
• Budget constraints.
• High initial investment requirements.
• The complexity of migration and implementation.

Bottom line, in today’s cybersecurity environment, passwordless authentication protects a wide range of attacks. It works by identifying people or devices that lack a password. It is gaining popularity and is likely to become the new standard as passwords get more difficult in the modern world.

ALSO READ: PASSWORD MANAGERS YOU SHOULD OPT FOR INSTEAD OF 1PASSWORD IN 2024