In the modern world, we accept passwords as a necessary evil. We don’t want to constantly type them in every time we want to access our accounts, but we understand that without them, our online security would be virtually non-existent.
However, some entrepreneurs are wondering just how much longer the humble password has to run. They envision a new kind of setup where computers and accounts recognize their owners automatically, instead of having to be reminded by a typed code.
Apple Started The Ball Rolling
Apple was among the first consumer brands to attempt to ditch the password. It introduced TouchID technology that allowed users to use their faces and fingerprints to verify who they were before logging onto their devices. It was a huge step forward.
Later on, Android and Google copied the concept, introducing the technology to their own phones. It was a big move and finally got rid of the annoying need to enter a PIN every time you wanted to unlock your device. You could simply touch it and tell it that you were its owner.
The Benefits Of Biometrics
One of the wonderful things about biometrics like these is that they don’t rely on a memorable string of numbers that can be stolen. In security terms, it’s one up versus traditional passwords. Anyone can type in a password, but only the owner of the phone has the fingerprint or facial features to unlock their device.
Naturally, persistent hackers will find ways around these technologies, but the idea of just grabbing a password and using it to access a person’s device seems dead in the water. In the future, that’s not going to happen.
Other Solutions
However, biometrics are still quite tricky to get right. What’s more, they are far more challenging to implement in businesses. Companies can struggle to adapt systems, particularly when they have high staff turnover.
For this reason, firms are experimenting with enterprise password manager dongles. The idea here is that workers wear a lanyard around their necks while in the office. As they approach their computer terminals, the lanyard sends a signal that tells the computer to unlock. Then, when they walk away, it locks again.
The solution is handy because it protects firms from both internal and external threats. There’s no indication on the device as to which computer it opens. And if a worker loses it, IT can immediately shut it down, preventing a breach.
Importantly, these dongles eliminate the need for a password or storing sensitive biometric information. Even if hackers got hold of the devices, they couldn’t impersonate any member of the team.
Third-Party Device Verification
Lastly, we might also see the emergence of third-party device verification. The idea here is to connect devices via the cloud and then allow authorized people to access their accounts using whatever channel they want.
They simply log onto the third-party device and then confirm their identity on their smartphone following a prompt. The third-party device then grants them access, based on their cloud-verified credentials.