Passwordless authentication is revolutionizing the way users access their online accounts and services, eliminating the need to remember and manage complex passwords.
This modern approach improves security and optimizes the user experience, offering a more convenient and efficient solution for identity authentication.
Discover our use case: Biometrics as a Passwordless Authentication method
Why Passwords Are Not Secure?
Passwords have been the standard for user authentication for decades, but they present multiple vulnerabilities.
- Brute-force attacks, where hackers use automated programs to try countless combinations of characters until they find the right one.
- Weak passwords, easy to guess, or reused across multiple accounts, which increases the risk of compromising security.
- Stolen through phishing attacks, attackers trick users into revealing their credentials through fraudulent emails or websites.
These shortcomings demonstrate the urgent need for a more secure approach to authentication.
59% of people use the same password everywhere.
Source: LastPass
What is Passwordless Authentication and how does it work?
Passwordless authentication is an innovative method of verifying a user’s identity without relying on traditional passwords, which addresses the limitations of traditional systems of remembering complex combinations.
Instead of requiring a password, alternative methods such as biometrics (facial or voice recognition) are used to authenticate the user.
Is Passwordless Authentication Secure?
Although no authentication method is completely immune to security risks, passwordless authentication offers numerous advantages in terms of security.
Passwordless authentication offers several significant benefits over traditional password-based systems:
- Enhanced Security: By reducing the reliance on passwords, the risks of password-related attacks are minimized. Alternative authentication methods, such as biometrics, are inherently more secure, difficult to compromise, and difficult to replicate, even by deepfake technologies.
- Improved User Experience: Users no longer need to remember and manage complex passwords. This reduces frustration and errors, improving satisfaction and productivity.
- Streamlined Login Process: Passwordless authentication makes accessing accounts faster and more convenient, which is especially beneficial in enterprise environments and for mobile devices.
- Compliance with Modern Security Standards: Passwordless authentication is aligned with current security best practices, offering a proactive solution to address emerging cyber threats.
- Reduced Support Costs: By eliminating the need to reset passwords, organizations can significantly reduce the costs associated with technical support and password management.
Other authentication methods and their differences with Passwordless Authentication
Other authentication methods such as one-time passwords (OTP) and two-factor authentication have become popular for offering a higher level of security compared to the single use of passwords.
But even so, these methods fall short of the convenience, security, and protection offered by passwordless authentication because they rely on external devices or static credentials.
Here is a quick comparative overview of the 3 methods:
| Passwordless Authentication | OTP | 2FA | |
| Method | Biometrics | Unique code sent to device | Password + second factor |
| Security | Very high (difficult to replicate or intercept) | High, but susceptible to phishing | High, but relies on passwords |
| Convenience | High (no code recall) | Moderate (requires access to the device) | Moderate (two-step) |
If you want to continue using these methods, the recommendation is to use them in combination with biometrics. That is, use two-factor authentication in which the second factor is biometrics, preferably voice authentication because it is the most secure and difficult to replicate.
Passwordless authentication not only improves security but also transforms the user experience. Find out how our voice biometrics solutions can revolutionize security in your company by clicking here.