Passwordless authentication is a collective name given to methods that allow users to verify their identity without using a traditional password.
Instead, users authenticate themselves using methods like biometrics, (fingerprints, face recognition) one-time passwords (OTP), hardware tokens, magic links and more.
The main goal of passwordless authentication is enhancing security and user experience by getting rid of the risks and frustrations associated with passwords.
In the modern digital world, cyber-attacks are turning out to be more sophisticated, and password-based security is proving woefully inadequate.
Passwordless authentication is a significant leap in cybersecurity in which verifications will be granted based on something users are or have, rather than something they know.
Companies like Google, Microsoft, and Apple are leading the way by using passwordless login and saying it is the next frontier in user authentication. These companies, by eliminating the need for passwords, plan on offering far more secure and user-friendly solutions, with less risk and better experience.
As data breaches continued to escalate, it shortly became very evident that passwords, especially weak or reused ones, were a major vulnerability.
Companies and developers started searching for alternatives that could protect user access without depending on passwords.
The turning point came in 2012 when the FIDO Alliance (Fast Identity Online) was formed by tech giants like PayPal and Lenovo.
This alliance was dedicated to the development of open and scalable standards for passwordless authentication. Their efforts culminated in release of the FIDO standards, which introduced secure authentication using public-key cryptography.
Although companies such as IBM with the ThinkPad, HP with their laptops and even Motorola with the Atrix had implemented fingerprint readers for authentication, the first significant mainstream use of passwordless methods was made in 2013, with the release of the iPhone 5s featuring Apple's Touch ID fingerprint scanner.
This marked an extremely important moment in the timeline of passwordless authentication development since it brought biometrics to mainstream consumers for easy, secure access to devices.
Other companies, such as Samsung, followed suit with the Galaxy S5 in 2014.
Today, biometrics have become widely accepted and an integral part of passwordless authentication solutions.
Passwords can be a hassle, whether you’re a user, a developer or a UX designer.
They add a layer of complexity to your life.
Despite being one of the key elements in digital security, passwords are the root cause of many security issues, such as data breaches, phishing attacks and credential stuffing. They are highly vulnerable, they can be guessed, stolen, reused across multiple platforms and easily compromised.
Password fatigue forces users to generally use weak, repetitive passwords across multiple platforms, which only amplifies the risk.
To understand how passwordless authentication works, it’s essential to understand the three primary factors involved with user authentication:
Knowledge: Something that only the user knows, like a password or the answer to a question.
Possession: A physical object in the possession of the user, something the user has, such as a smartphone or a security token.
Inherence: Personal traits unique with the individual user, something only he is, such as biometrics.
With passwordless authentication, there is no need to remember passwords. Authentication depends on what the users have (a device) and who they are (biometrics).
What the user has: This could be a device, like a smartphone, or a physical security key. The authentication happens through a one-time code, a magic link sent through email, or via a hardware token. This is where users can verify their identity by receiving a code, or just click on a link to get access with no need to input any password.
Who the user is: This includes identifying features unique to a person, which could include fingerprints or facial recognition. Most modern devices come fitted with fingerprint sensors and with facial identification capabilities that allow users to validate who they are simply by scanning their physical features. It is secure and quite easy to do, eliminating the hassle associated with passwords.
Today, different passwordless authentication solutions exist, each uniquely crafted to seamlessly authenticate the user. The following features some of the most popular methods:
Biometrics: These allow access depending on the particular user's individual biological characteristics, like fingerprints, facial recognition or voice recognition. Examples include Apple Face ID and Touch ID.
Magic Links: Magic links are a passwordless login method where users receive a link via email or SMS and, after clicking on the link, gains access without having to enter the password at all. This is pretty popular in web applications due to its simplicity.
Hardware Tokens: Another passwordless authentication method is through hardware tokens, such as USB security keys or NFC-enabled devices. These physical devices have to be plugged into or new the system for the user to gain access.
One-Time Passcodes (OTP): Temporary codes sent to the user via SMS or email. Then, the user enters this code to authenticate their identity. This is often used as a 2FA (two-factor authentication).
Authenticator Apps: Apps like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator generate a time-based one-time passcode (TOTP), usually limited for 30 seconds. The user enters these codes in order to verify their identity. This is also often used as a 2FA solution and it’s not a standalone solution.
These passwordless authentication methods free users from passwords. Are all of them safe though? Not necessarily, most of these are hackable, vulnerable to phishing and other security risks.
So what passwordless authentication method stands out as superior? Passkeys!
Unlike other methods, passkeys are resistant to phishing and use advanced cryptography called asymmetric encryption, which involves 2 keys - private and public.
The public one is stored on the service server, and is useless on its own. It needs the private key in order to authenticate. The private key is stored on the user’s device and never leaves it. This makes them virtually unhackable and far more secure than traditional methods.
Passkeys are built on WebAuthn, a web protocol designed to ensure security across multiple services. With each public key being unique for every service and tied with the specific domain, ensuring it can be used only on the correct and legitimate domain, making phishing attacks nearly impossible.
Going passwordless is a game-changer for both users and businesses.
For users, passwordless authentication makes the process frictionless.
No more remembering or managing complex passwords and worrying about security risks. Signing up, logging in, and filling forms becomes effortless. This translates into quicker checkouts, leading to an intuitive experience and higher satisfaction.
For businesses, the benefits are just as significant. Implementing passwordless authentication reduces security risks by removing one of the largest attack vectors: weak, repetitive or stolen passwords. It also lowers operational costs by removing password reset requests and reduces drop-off rates, boosting overall conversions.
These 2 are sometimes mentioned in similar contexts, so it’s important to clarify the difference. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enhances security by requiring two or more verification steps, such as entering a password followed by a one-time passcode (OTP).
While it’s effective, it still creates friction and users need to use passwords.
Passwordless auth is different; it removes passwords from the equation entirely, offering a seamless and a secure authentication method.
MFA can still be passwordless, for example, an app might use biometric authentication followed by a magic link sent by email.
The elimination of the password-related vulnerabilities indeed makes passwordless security much safer than the traditional passwords.
However, as with any security system, passwordless authentication has its drawbacks.
Limited compatibility: Biometric authentication, for instance, requires specialized hardware that not all devices support. This includes technologies such as facial recognition or fingerprint scanning.
Privacy is another issue: Users might not feel comfortable about collected and processed biometric data.
Physical theft or loss: Hardware tokens, or even a smartphone with an authenticator app, while secure, can be lost or stolen, potentially leading to unauthorized access or locking users out of their accounts.
Implementation costs: While going passwordless reduces costs in the long run and boost revenue through a better user experience, it still requires an initial investment: extra hardware, software, and often maintenance to keep things running smoothly.
Utilizing MFA, educating the users and adding fallback options can all mitigate these possible drawbacks. Businesses should also be transparent about how they handle and store user data.
Setting up passwordless authentication for your organization requires careful planning.
You first have to choose the correct approach: biometric, passkey, hardware token, or magic link, depending on the platform and user needs.
Ensure that the implementation is based on the FIDO2 standards for wide compatibility with all major browsers and devices and offer a seamless experience.
It will be wise to educate the users by doing some pilot testing before a full rollout. Highlighting the benefits, will help build and encourage smoother adoption.
This can further be combined with multi-factor authentication (MFA) that makes passwordless authentications more secure and safe against device theft.
Choosing a reliable passwordless logins provider is crucial for a successful transition. The right provider ensures a seamless and secure integration process, without the hassle and downtime.
OwnID is a leading provider in the passkey space, known for offering smooth, user-friendly implementations that adhere to FIDO2 standards.
When evaluating providers, consider factors like customer support, scalability, ease of use, and how well the solution addresses your actual security needs. With a trusted provider like OwnID, migrating to passwordless logins will be a smooth and safe experience for both users and businesses.
When it comes to adding passwordless logins in mobile applications, the key considerations should be device compatibility and security, devices with native biometrics, facilitate seamless login, but developers must ensure secure data storage and consistency across different platforms.
Adding passwordless authentication to websites requires proper setup, browser compatibility, and adherence to the FIDO2 standards. The goal is to lower the friction while maintaining strong security with fallback options for users lacking compatible devices.
