Alternative to traditional password
There are alternatives to passwords. Passwords are considered by many to be insecure and easy to break. So what are the alternative and how are they better?
For this discussion you will research alternative to traditional password that are created by users. Choose an article and summarize your chosen alternative method of authentication. Do you think it is a possible alternative? How difficult is it to implement and manage? Is special hardware needed to use it? Does it have its own weaknesses?
Sample Solution
Biometric authentication is a form of security that utilizes physical characteristics to verify a user’s identity. Instead of relying on something users know (password) or possess (security token), biometrics authentication uses the inherent features of an individual such as their fingerprint, face, or iris scan.
One distinct advantage of biometric authentication is the difficulty for someone to impersonate the actual user since it relies on physiological traits which are unique from person to person. This trait provides additional assurance that only authorized personnel can access files and systems within an organization thus increasing overall safety and security. Furthermore, with biometric recognition algorithms continuing to improve in accuracy, this method also eliminates the need for passwords (and other shared secrets) completely – meaning there will no longer be any need for users to remember or update their credentials periodically.
The implementation and management process for biometrics depends largely on what type of system you are implementing it into. For example, if you are looking at incorporating facial recognition software onto mobile phones then the setup would typically require specialized hardware such as front-facing cameras or infrared sensors so that your device can “read” an individual’s face accurately and reliably each time they attempt log in. On systems without dedicated hardware however (like PCs), there may still be limitations – as most operating systems have limited support for biometric devices like fingerprint readers and retina scanners, although these options do exist if needed.
With any technology comes weaknesses but thankfully modern day algorithms have improved greatly in terms of accuracy over recent years thus successfully reducing false readings when compared against traditional methods like passwords alone. However one potential downside is due to its reliance on physical attributes; individuals may not always pass through successfully depending on environmental factors like poor lighting conditions etc., leading some organizations having multiple points/stages of authentication before granting full access rights which could potentially cause further delays should a user fail at any point throughout this process.
Overall though, recent advancements in both hardware/software means that usage of biometrics has become increasingly more reliable - meaning this could quite possibly prove to be viable alternative solution going forward when it comes down enhancing user authentication procedures into our ever expanding digital world we live in today!