Passwords have been an important part of online security since the dawn of the Internet, and they are still the most common form of authentication today. However, with the rise of cyberattacks targeting password-based authentication and serious data breaches, passwords don’t seem like a safe solution anymore.
So if passwords come with serious security risks, we can say goodbye to them and use passwordless login instead.
1. Biometrics
In the context of cybersecurity, biometric authentication is a security method that checks a person’s unique biological characteristics to confirm the person’s identity, such as fingerprints, retinal scans, verification voice or face recognition.
While cybercriminals can use a copy of your face, voice, or fingerprint in a spoofing attack, the use of smart security tools and additional authentication methods is not enough. supplements can significantly reduce this risk.
However, while biometrics are more secure and user-friendly than passwords, they also have some downsides. In particular, biometric authentication requires specialized hardware and software, which can make this method expensive. Also, biometric data is quite private, so some people may feel uncomfortable using it for authentication.
2. Multi-Factor Authentication
As the name suggests, multi-factor authentication (MFA for short) is an authentication method that requires two or more factors for verification before allowing access to an online application or service.
So instead of being content with a static username and password, MFA requires additional verification factors like a one-time password, geo-location, or fingerprint scanning. By ensuring that user credentials are not stolen, MFA helps reduce the chances of fraud or successful identity theft.
While MFA is more secure than just using a static password, it is also less convenient because the user has to go through many steps. For example, if you lose the device you were using for a second authentication, you could be locked out of all online accounts that use MFA.
3. Security key authentication
To ensure that the right users have access to the right data, this type of MFA secures your passwords by adding a security key, a physical device that is plugged into your computer (via a USB port or connected to your computer). Bluetooth connection) every time you sign in to a service it protects.
Security keys are sometimes confused with security tokens, which are also physical devices but are devices that generate a 6-digit code when prompted by the MFA. Although there is a purpose, they are not the same.
While security keys can resist password-based attacks, they are still a relatively new player in the cybersecurity war. Also, if your security key is stolen or lost, this becomes a serious problem.
