In Today’s scenario, every single person uses the internet and has multiple online accounts on various websites such as Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and many more. And Password protection is mandatory to secure them. But sometimes accounts get hack without people’s knowledge, all because of weak/common password, user’s mistake.
Most of users think use of 2-factor Authentication security is best for credentials- if you also think same, then you are wrong because the 2-factor Authentication security is also a bypass by using the Phishing Technique.
To avoid these type of problems Passwordless Authentication technique is make. Its main purpose is to verify users’ Digital Identity without the use of a password. The Passwordless Authentication relies on the Asymmetric cryptography where both public and private key are present. It generates a public-private key pair. The public key is finally store at the website, application, browser for which the user wants to have an account.
however, the private key is store in the user’s local device and is tie to an authentication factor, such as a fingerprint or voice recognition. thus, It can only be access with this gesture.
There are two factors:-
- Ownership factors (“Something the user has”) such as OTP token, Smart card or a hardware token.
- Inherence factors (“Something the user is”) such as fingerprints,retina scans, face or voice recognition.
Passwordless Authentication = something you have (trusted device) + something you are(Biometric)
Why do we need Passwordless Authentication?
1. Improve User Experience –
Passwordless Authentication means thus the users need to enter password and memorized secrets, streamlining the authentication process. It provides simple and also consistent techniques to sign-in with passwordless authentication experience without frustrating account lockouts.
although It is much easier to sign-in with fingerprint scanning or biometric scanning; you also no longer need to memorize any credentials whatsoever. Users no longer need to remember several different passwords and update complex password combinations just to be productive.
2. Scalability –
Managing multiple logins without additional password and complicated registration. Through factors that users already possess, such as their mobile device biometrics security and mobile apps authentication, or their laptop (i.e. Windows Hello and fingerprint on MacOS) easier scalability for users within workforce and customer-base.
3. Greater convenience –
It becomes easier to log in and access data from any website, application. Since users can authenticate their account without passwords.
4. Threat-resistant login –
Because there is no need to type any password, the likelihood of being phish is reduce. This also means users are secure from man-in-the-middle, and other replay attacks that rely on passwords.
5. Enhance Security –
Passwords are the biggest attack vector so their security is also that much important. Most of the users use the same password for multiple websites, applications and are able to share them with others due to which there are high chances to lose online accounts. Credentials are 80% responsible for breaches, and they also lead to attacks such as account takeover, Password Spraying and brute force attack.
Passwordless authentication enhances your organization’s security by significantly reducing your overall attack surface and virtually eliminating the risk of compromised credentials/passwords are known to be a weak point in computer systems.
6. Reduction in maintenance cost –
As managing passwords is expensive and they require constant maintenance from IT staff, implementing password complexity policies, password reset processes, password expiration, password hashing and storing, breached password detection and free IT to deal with real problems. Save money by going passwordless authentication.
7. Enhance Control and Visibility –
Password reuse, phishing, and sharing are just a few of the issues related to password authentication, with passwordless authentication, IT reclaims its purpose of having complete visibility over identity and access management. Since credentials tied to a particular hardware device or inherent user attribute, they can’t be massively used and access management becomes more secure.
What major problems are eliminated after Passwordless Authentication?
- Phishing
- Keylogging
- SIM swapping
- Password reuse
- Credential Lost
- Credential replay
- Password sharing
- Credential stuffing
- Password spraying
- Brute-Force
- Shoulder Surfing
WHICH AUTHENTICATION METHODS ARE USED FOR PASSWORDLESS AUTHENTICATION?
In passwordless authentication, proof is possessed by a user’s identity that uniquely identifies the user (e.g. a registered hardware device, biometric signature such as fingerprint, voice, and retina), Due to this password guessing and cracking is next to impossible.
Written By: Nikhil Mehra
Reviewed By: Sayan Chatterjee
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