As internet technology has evolved, there are a lot of different methods to authenticate people and validate their identities. These include both general authentication techniques (passwords, two-factor authentication, tokens, biometrics, transaction authentication, computer recognition, captchas, and single sign-on) as well as specific authentication protocols. Here are the most common methods for successful authentication, which can ensure the security of your system that people use daily.
Basic authentication
The most commonly utilized regular login authentication system that you will employ on a daily basis while utilizing an online service is password-based login. You need to input a combination of your username/mobile number and a password when using the Password-Based Authentication technique. The individual is authorized only when both of these elements have been verified. However, because today’s customers use multiple online services (apps and websites), it’s tough to keep track of all of their usernames and passwords. As a result of this, end-users engage in unethical behaviors such as forgetting passwords, using the same password for several services, and so on. Cybercriminals enter at this point and begin actions such as phishing, data breaches, and so on. That is the fundamental reason why standard password-based authentication is losing favor and more organizations are turning to advanced additional security authentication factors.
Two-factor authentication(2FA)
Two-factor authentication builds on passwords to create a significantly more robust security solution. It requires both a password and possession of a specific physical object to gain access to a network—something you know and something you have. ATMs were an early system to use two-factor authentication. To use an ATM, customers need to remember a password PIN plus insert a debit card. Neither one is enough by itself.
In computer security, 2FA follows the same principle. After entering their username and a password, users have to clear an additional hurdle to login: they need to input a one-time code from a particular physical device. The code may be sent to their cell phone via text message, or it may be generated using a mobile app. If a hacker guesses the password, they can’t proceed without the user’s cell phone; conversely, if they steal the mobile device, they still can’t get in without the password. 2FA is being implemented on an increasing number of banking, email, and social media websites. Whenever it’s an option, make sure to enable it for better security.
Multi-Factor Authentication(MFA)
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is an authentication method in which an individual must pass multiple factors in order to gain access to a service or network. It’s an extra layer of security on top of the standard password-based login. Individuals must also submit a second factor in the form of a one-time code that they will receive through phone or email in addition to their Username and Password.
You may quickly configure several Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) methods to give an extra layer of security to your resources. OTP/TOTP via SMS, OTP/TOTP over Email, Push notification, Hardware Token, and Mobile Authenticator are all examples of MFA methods (Google, Microsoft, Authy, etc). You can choose any of the MFA techniques and implement them for organizational security based on your needs and requirements. After traditional password-based login, Multi-Factor Authentication is the most trusted authentication mechanism. For improved security, password-based traditional authentication and Multi-Factor Authentication methods are usually used simultaneously.
Token authentication
Some companies prefer not to rely on cell phones for their additional layer of authentication protection. They have instead turned to token authentication systems. Token systems use a purpose-built physical device for the 2FA. This may be a dongle inserted into the computer’s USB port, or a smart card containing a radio frequency identification or near-field communication chip. If you have a token-based system, keep careful track of the dongles or smart cards to ensure they don’t fall into the wrong hands. When a team member’s employment ends, for example, they must relinquish their token. These systems are more expensive since they require purchasing new devices, but they can provide an extra measure of security.
Biometric authentication
Individual physical attributes such as fingerprints, palms, retinas, voice, face, and voice recognition are used in biometric authentication. Biometric authentication works in the following way: first, the physical characteristics of individuals are saved in a database. Individuals’ physical features are checked against the data contained in the database whenever a user wants to access any device or physically enter any premises (Organization, School, Colleges, Workplace). Biometric authentication technology is mostly employed by private organizations, airports, and border crossing points where security is a top priority. Because of its capacity to create a high level of security and a user-friendly frictionless flow, biometrics is one of the most often used security technologies. Among the most common biometric authentication methods are:
- Fingerprint: To enable access, fingerprint authentication matches the unique pattern of an individual’s print. In some advanced Fingerprint authentication systems, the vascular structure of the finger is also sensed. Because it is one of the most user-friendly and accurate biometric systems, fingerprint authentication is currently the most common biometric technology for ordinary customers. Biometrics’ popularity can be due to the fact that you use your mobile phones with fingerprints on a regular basis, as well as companies or institutions that use Fingerprint authentication.
- Retina & Iris : Scanners shine a strong light into the eye and look for distinctive patterns in the colourful ring around the pupil of the eye in this biometric. After that, the scanned pattern is compared to data recorded in a database. When a person wears spectacles or contact lenses, eye-based authentication can be inaccurate.
- Facial: In facial authentication, multiple aspects of an individual’s face are scanned while they try to get access to a certain resource. When comparing faces from different angles or persons that look similar, such as family members, face recognition results can be inconsistent.
- Voice Recognition: Your voice tone is stored with a standardized secret code in the same way that the above-mentioned approach does. A check occurs because you must speak off each time you want access.
Transaction authentication
Transaction authentication takes a different approach from other web authentication methods. Rather than relying on information the user provides, it instead compares the user’s characteristics with what it knows about the user, looking for discrepancies. For example, say an online sales platform has a customer with a home address in Canada. When the user logs in, a transaction authentication system will check the user’s IP address to see if it’s consistent with their known location. If the customer is using an IP address in Canada, all is well. But if they’re using an IP address in China, someone may be trying to impersonate them. The latter case raises a red flag that triggers additional verification steps. Of course, the actual user may simply be traveling in China, so a transaction authentication system should avoid locking them out entirely. Transaction authentication does not replace password-based systems; instead, it provides an additional layer of protection.
Computer recognition authentication
Computer recognition authentication is similar to transaction authentication. Computer recognition verifies that a user is who they claim to be by checking that they are on a particular device. These systems install a small software plug-in on the user’s computer the first time they login. The plug-in contains a cryptographic device marker. Next time the user logs in, the marker is checked to make sure they are on the known device. The beauty of this system is that it’s invisible to the user, who simply enters their username and password; verification is done automatically. The disadvantage of computer recognition authentication is that users sometimes switch devices. Such a system must enable logins from new devices using other verification methods (e.g., texted codes).
Captcha
Hackers are using increasingly sophisticated automated programs to break into secure systems. CAPTCHAs are designed to neutralize this threat. This authentication method is not focused on verifying a particular user; rather, it seeks to determine whether a user is in fact human. Coined in 2003, the term CAPTCHA is an acronym for “completely automated public Turing test to tell computers and humans apart.” The system displays a distorted image of letters and numbers to the user, asking them to type in what they see. Computers have a tough time dealing with these distortions, but humans can typically tell what they are. Adding a CAPTCHA enhances network security by creating one more barrier to automated hacking systems. Nevertheless, they can cause some problems. Individuals with disabilities (such as blind people using auditory screen readers) may not be able to get past a CAPTCHA. Even nondisabled users sometimes have trouble figuring them out, leading to frustration and delays.
Single sign-on
Single sign-on (SSO) is a useful feature to consider when deciding between device authentication methods. SSO enables a user to only enter their credentials once to gain access to multiple applications. Consider an employee who needs access to both email and cloud storage on separate websites. If the two sites are linked with SSO, the user will automatically have access to the cloud storage site after logging on to the email client. SSO saves time and keeps users happy by avoiding repeatedly entering passwords. Yet it can also introduce security risks; an unauthorized user who gains access to one system can now penetrate others. A related technology, single sign-off, logs users out of every application when they log out of a single one. This bolsters security by making certain that all open sessions are closed.