As the future beckons on us, we will embrace a future without passwords. There’s bound to be a shift in how we safeguard our digital lives. At this time, we are slowly bidding farewell to cumbersome passwords and vulnerabilities.
The idea behind a future without passwords is to reduce frustration while keeping us safer. Whether we want to accept it or not, passwords are a headache for individuals and enterprise users. The reason is plausible: Passwords are always the weakest link in our cybersecurity defenses.
With the increase in cybersecurity loopholes, phishing, and attacks, it’s logical for us to dump passwords and fully embrace a passwordless future. Imagine placing a thumb on your screen, and you can unlock your devices; why can we not replicate these passwordless technologies in every area of our digital lives?
Think of what a future without passwords will be like. It’s beyond fingerprints and biometric recognition. It’s total freedom from all forms of passwords and password managers.
Why Should We Embrace a Future Without Passwords?
For decades, passwords have functioned as our gatekeepers. However, we have come to the reality of the inherent loopholes of password-based authentication. With passwords, we always leave the door to our digital resources ajar for cybercriminals to penetrate. Regardless of the strength of a password, we are just a click away from being phished or hacked.
With the new technology of the passwordless revolution being spearheaded by Kelvin Zero and others, there’s finally a solution on the horizon. Passwordless technologies promise a future where billions of usernames and passwords will no longer be roaming freely on the dark web.
If you check the Most Common Password List year after year, you’ll see why there is an urgent need to abandon all forms of password for authentication. As you read this, you’ll recall that you’ve used a ridiculously simple password at one time or another. These simple passwords can be easily cracked in minutes using brute force or dictionary attacks.
When it comes to passwords, weak passwords are just part of the big issue. Another issue is the reusing of passwords. This has made our entire digital life susceptible to attacks. Utilizing a single password in securing multiple accounts is a security risk, and that is, to put it mildly. Once the attacker can gain access to a single account, there’s a likelihood that every other account will be tested for vulnerability by the attackers.
The Benefit of a Future Without Passwords
When it comes to abandoning passwords, the pros will always outweigh the cons. You are safeguarding your digital life using the strongest and safest authentication method known to man.
According to statistics, an average online user has about 240 online accounts, and to be frank, it’s hard work to deploy different passwords for all of these accounts. This leads us to the first benefit: an improved user experience. With the strength of passwordless technologies, we can switch and navigate different websites and applications without looking for passwords. In the end, we are safe and still able to save time.
Another strength of passwordless authentication is the heightened security. Today, about 81% of cybersecurity failures leverage on weak and multiple passwords. In the end, adopting a passwordless future will improve our digital security. We should look forward to a drastic reduction in brute force attacks or a total elimination of brute force attacks. There will also be fewer incidences of credential stuffing; attackers will no longer be able to use stolen data to gain access to accounts.
Passwords are a high commodity in the dark web, but this will no longer happen. Passwordless authentication will demarket passwords as the demand will dwindle. There will also be less IT overhead cost as IT teams can focus on other issues rather than password resets for employees.
Final Thoughts
There have been arguments about the drawbacks and challenges often accompanying new technologies. Regarding passwordless authentication, the flaws are not as pronounced as the issues surrounding passwords.
For example, the critics of a passwordless future echo the issue of device dependency and user hesitancy as the major weaknesses. However, these two significant drawbacks are trivial. Over time, end users will better appreciate the safety and invincibility of passwordless authentication.
However, despite the drawbacks, the future of passwordless authentication is dawning on us. We are approaching a period when we are safer and more digitally protected than ever. A passwordless future is convenient and secure; as individuals and businesses, you are better positioned digitally if you embrace a passwordless future.
In the end, we’ll come to the realization that passwordless authentication saves time, is secure, and with less hassles when it comes to both individuals and enterprise users. With everything happening around us, you know it’s time for passwords to end.