Skip to content
Tiatra, LLCTiatra, LLC
Tiatra, LLC
Information Technology Solutions for Washington, DC Government Agencies
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
    • IT Engineering and Support
    • Software Development
    • Information Assurance and Testing
    • Project and Program Management
  • Clients & Partners
  • Careers
  • News
  • Contact
 
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
    • IT Engineering and Support
    • Software Development
    • Information Assurance and Testing
    • Project and Program Management
  • Clients & Partners
  • Careers
  • News
  • Contact

Passwordless MFA for Customers: How to Fortify Security without Introducing Friction

Password-based authentication is likely the most widely used method of authenticating users to online services. However, the fact that it is common does not mean that it is good at its job. Password-based authentication is used because it is easy to understand and implement.

However, this comes at the cost of weak security and a poor user experience.

With FIDO2 and passwordless authentication, alternatives exist that are simultaneously more secure and create less friction for the user. They provide multifactor authentication (MFA) without the usual burden on the user.

Password-based authentication isn’t working

While passwords are the most commonly used authentication mechanism, they aren’t a good one. Password-based authentication mechanisms are some of the least secure and least usable options available.

Passwords have significant known security issues. These include:

  • Weak passwords: By definition, a strong password is one that is difficult to remember, so users have the choice of using a password manager (rare) or using weak passwords (common). As a result, many users’ passwords are guessable, making them easy to crack with automated attacks.
  • Reused passwords: The need to remember passwords for many online accounts leads users to reuse passwords across multiple accounts. This makes them vulnerable to credential stuffing attacks, where bots try passwords exposed via data breaches, phishing, etc. on a user’s other online accounts.
  • Phishing attacks: Password-based authentication is based on a user knowing and typing in a password on a website. If a user knows a password, they can be tricked into exposing it to an attacker. Attackers are getting much more sophisticated in tricking users, such as by using man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks to compromise credentials.

The passwords used by your customers to log into your mobile apps, website, or other customer channels are vulnerable to account takeover (ATO) fraud and are well-known targets for attackers. In other words, the threats are high and the vulnerabilities are well known and exploitable.

To bolster the security of password-based authentication systems, companies too often turn to a patchwork of protection. Common solutions include SMS one-time passwords (OTPs), out-of-wallet questions, CAPTCHAs, and similar mechanisms.

These often add “factors” of authentication, such as “what you have”, on top of passwords (“what you know”), thereby enhancing security. However, this patchwork creates several problems, including:

  • Vulnerable factors: Many of the mechanisms used to bolster password security are also vulnerable to attack. For example, OTPs can be stolen via phishing or man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, and out-of-wallet questions commonly involve information that is publicly accessible via data breaches, public records, social media, or phishing attacks.
  • False MFA: OTPs attempt to add a “something you have” factor to password-based authentication. However, if this “something you have” is an email account that uses the same password as the original account, it provides no additional protection.
  • Additional cost and complexity: Implementing multi-stage authentication processes requires additional development time and creates additional complexity that can introduce security flaws and potential authentication bypasses.
  • Degraded user experience: The need to wait for an OTP, solve a CAPTCHA, or take other steps before authenticating harms the user experience.

The frustration of complex authentication processes leads to a poor customer experience, lower brand loyalty, and even direct consequences such as reduced guest conversions or higher cart abandonment rates. Passwords and the patchwork also create particular problems for those with cognitive (including dyslexia) and physical disabilities.

Another problem is that this patchwork of additional protections adds cost and complexity to your authentication solution. Each of these systems must be implemented, managed and maintained. Many, such as SMS OTPs, are difficult to use globally as each country or region introduces new requirements. Complexity, in turn, increases the risks inherent in your systems.

Passwordless authentication improves usability and security

The best solution to the password problem is going passwordless with a FIDO-based approach.

The FIDO2 standard uses public-key cryptography, which stores a locked private key on a device and sends the associated public key to an application. Users authenticate via biometrics or another strong authentication method, unlocking their private key. This key is then used to generate a digital signature that the server can validate with the corresponding public key.

The beauty of FIDO authentication is its unphishable. Not only does it eliminate the reusable password, it eliminates the need for SMS one-time passwords (which are also phishable). And it provides two-way authentication: your customer authenticates to your site and your site authenticates to your customer’s device. All of this, and yet it’s entirely seamless to the user.

FIDO authentication is now possible using most mobile phones and many tablets, laptops, and other devices in use today. FIDO can be used to authenticate users on a non-FIDO device, like a PC, using another FIDO-compatible device like a mobile phone.

If you choose or build the right authentication service[1], FIDO authentication can be performed without requiring any additional software or hardware for the customer. It’s already built into most mobile devices. Customers of ours often integrate it into their own mobile apps, providing an experience consistent with their brand while improving the security and experience of their digital channels.

When done right, a FIDO-based approach completely eliminates passwords for the majority of your customers. One of our global retail customers is implementing passwordless universally, for consumers who carry a FIDO-compliant device and for those who do not. This not only improves security during their authentication process but also eliminates a common target of cybercriminals: customer passwords.

Many of the most security-savvy and CX-focused companies on the planet are moving in this direction. This includes tech companies like Microsoft, Google, and Apple, but also banks, insurance companies, payment processors, healthcare providers, retailers, media and entertainment companies, and many more.

To learn more, read our complete guide to passwordless authentication.

[1] Source



Read More from This Article: Passwordless MFA for Customers: How to Fortify Security without Introducing Friction
Source: News

Category: NewsMay 2, 2022
Tags: art

Post navigation

PreviousPrevious post:Hyperconverged Infrastructure Deserves Another Look. Here’s Why.NextNext post:How Advances in Cloud Security Can Help with Ransomware

Related posts

휴먼컨설팅그룹, HR 솔루션 ‘휴넬’ 업그레이드 발표
May 9, 2025
Epicor expands AI offerings, launches new green initiative
May 9, 2025
MS도 합류··· 구글의 A2A 프로토콜, AI 에이전트 분야의 공용어 될까?
May 9, 2025
오픈AI, 아시아 4국에 데이터 레지던시 도입··· 한국 기업 데이터는 한국 서버에 저장
May 9, 2025
SAS supercharges Viya platform with AI agents, copilots, and synthetic data tools
May 8, 2025
IBM aims to set industry standard for enterprise AI with ITBench SaaS launch
May 8, 2025
Recent Posts
  • 휴먼컨설팅그룹, HR 솔루션 ‘휴넬’ 업그레이드 발표
  • Epicor expands AI offerings, launches new green initiative
  • MS도 합류··· 구글의 A2A 프로토콜, AI 에이전트 분야의 공용어 될까?
  • 오픈AI, 아시아 4국에 데이터 레지던시 도입··· 한국 기업 데이터는 한국 서버에 저장
  • SAS supercharges Viya platform with AI agents, copilots, and synthetic data tools
Recent Comments
    Archives
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • February 2025
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • March 2024
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • August 2023
    • July 2023
    • June 2023
    • May 2023
    • April 2023
    • March 2023
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
    Categories
    • News
    Meta
    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org
    Tiatra LLC.

    Tiatra, LLC, based in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, proudly serves federal government agencies, organizations that work with the government and other commercial businesses and organizations. Tiatra specializes in a broad range of information technology (IT) development and management services incorporating solid engineering, attention to client needs, and meeting or exceeding any security parameters required. Our small yet innovative company is structured with a full complement of the necessary technical experts, working with hands-on management, to provide a high level of service and competitive pricing for your systems and engineering requirements.

    Find us on:

    FacebookTwitterLinkedin

    Submitclear

    Tiatra, LLC
    Copyright 2016. All rights reserved.