Password protection was the foundational aspect of online cyber security for decades, but rapidly advancing hacking techniques and malware necessitated the arrival of a new way of doing things: two factor authentication. Many companies switched to this mode of authentication because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up creating an additional layer of defense, and the natural end result of this progression appears to be a world that is entirely devoid of passwords.
The Fast Identity Online organization, or FIDO for short, has been trying to hasten the onset of password obsolescence by claiming that passwords are the worst way to keep yourself safe from malicious actors. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that their alternative might put too much power in the hands of big tech companies like Apple and Google.
The thing that will be replacing passwords would be Apple’s Face ID for its iPhones, which makes sense since Apple was the first company to show its support for the FIDO initiative with all things having been considered and taken into account. In spite of the fact that this is the case, this might lock users into a particular ecosystem. If everything from your bank account to your Twitter account is only accessible through facial recognition, your iPhone will become even more important and it might discourage you from switching away.
Google, Amazon and most other Big Tech corporations are also supporting the initiative, but this potential unintended side effect is still something to consider. Users are already facing trouble with switching from iOS to Android and vice versa, and this new initiative might make matters even more pronounced.
Some are suggesting a blockchain based solution in which your facial ID is stored securely in the form of an NFT, since this would take control out of the hands of big tech companies. However, it remains to be seen if any of these solutions are sustainable, otherwise we might continue to rely on passwords to lock our accounts.
Vector: Freepik
H/T: FC.
The Fast Identity Online organization, or FIDO for short, has been trying to hasten the onset of password obsolescence by claiming that passwords are the worst way to keep yourself safe from malicious actors. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that their alternative might put too much power in the hands of big tech companies like Apple and Google.
The thing that will be replacing passwords would be Apple’s Face ID for its iPhones, which makes sense since Apple was the first company to show its support for the FIDO initiative with all things having been considered and taken into account. In spite of the fact that this is the case, this might lock users into a particular ecosystem. If everything from your bank account to your Twitter account is only accessible through facial recognition, your iPhone will become even more important and it might discourage you from switching away.
Google, Amazon and most other Big Tech corporations are also supporting the initiative, but this potential unintended side effect is still something to consider. Users are already facing trouble with switching from iOS to Android and vice versa, and this new initiative might make matters even more pronounced.
Some are suggesting a blockchain based solution in which your facial ID is stored securely in the form of an NFT, since this would take control out of the hands of big tech companies. However, it remains to be seen if any of these solutions are sustainable, otherwise we might continue to rely on passwords to lock our accounts.
H/T: FC.
