The Case for Passwordless Authentication

Password-based authentication systems are prone to various cyberattacks, including brute-force methods, phishing, and keylogging. In 2021, over two billion passwords were leaked by attackers. The number of stolen passwords has increased by more than 35 percent in recent years, proving how insecure password-based systems are (hint: something passwordless authentication can help with).

Even though applications encourage users to change passwords regularly and use complex and hard-to-guess phrases, it's inconvenient for users. Most users tend to choose a password that's easy to remember and, therefore, less secure.

This is where passwordless authentication can help. Passwordless authentication is the process of authenticating without needing to input a password or any memorized secret to gain access, in turn reducing data breaches. According to Verizon's Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), over 80 percent of data breaches happen due to stolen or weak passwords.

Passwordless authentication systems come in several different types, including biometric authentication, one-time passcodes, magic links, and social logins; and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. For instance, if you have a web application, biometric authentication or USB-based authentication might not be the best system since you'll need external devices for verification. In such cases, other authentication types, like social logins or magic links, make more sense.

You can learn more about the different types of passwordless authentication by clicking here.