Learn how and why you should adopt passwordless authentication in your digital product onboarding. honestly, this is a cry out because I and the billions of users who want to use your digital products want a secured and seamless authentication without the fear of security or losing memory then forgetting passwords just like me. O yeah for real it happened so let me give you a back story.

A few weeks ago, I had a weird experience I woke up and realized I had forgotten most of my passwords. My ATM pin, banking app credentials, email passwords, and even passwords to a few other apps I rarely use. I tried too many incorrect pins, and my card got blocked. My banking app locked me out for multiple failed attempts, and I lost access to a project’s social media account because I couldn’t access an email. It was a frustrating and nerve-wracking moment. I panicked, thinking, “Am I losing my memory already? But common I’m not even 30 yet”😂

As someone who usually thrives on solving problems, I took a step back to analyze the situation. The issue wasn’t me, it was the flawed system we’ve all come to rely on passwords. Despite starting to use a password manager recently, I realized that even the best tools can be clunky when it comes to importing existing credentials.

That experience opened my eyes to something critical It’s time to stop depending on outdated methods like passwords. Instead, digital products need to embrace passwordless authentication using passkeys a much safer and user-friendly alternative.

In this little cry-out article of mine, I will share some common problems with using passwords and then insights about passwordless authentication using passkeys with the hope that you will adopt it when building a digital project.

The problem with passwords

For decades, we’ve relied on passwords to protect our online accounts, financial data, and even personal communications. But passwords have become more of a liability than a reliable security measure. Here are some of the key reasons why passwords are failing us:

• Weak and Reused Passwords: Most people use weak passwords because they’re easy to remember, or worse, they reuse the same password across multiple accounts. This creates a huge vulnerability: if one password is compromised, hackers can access multiple accounts.

• Phishing and Data Breaches: Even strong passwords are no match for sophisticated phishing schemes and large-scale data breaches. Cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to trick users into giving up their passwords or hacking databases to steal login credentials.

• Password Fatigue: With the average person managing dozens of online accounts, password fatigue is real. Trying to remember multiple complex passwords leads to stress, mistakes, and situations like the one I experienced where forgetting even one password can trigger a cascade of lockouts and frustrations.

• Password Resets: The process of resetting a forgotten password often involves multiple steps, waiting for confirmation emails, or answering security questions. It’s time-consuming, frustrating, and sometimes even insecure if you’re unable to access the recovery email or phone number.

What is the way forward?

The FIDO Alliance is an open industry association with a focused mission: reduce the world’s reliance on passwords. To accomplish this, the FIDO Alliance promotes the development of, use of, and compliance with standards for authentication and device attestation.

The FIDO Alliance is changing the nature of authentication with open standards for phishing-resistant sign-ins with passkeys that are more secure than passwords and SMS OTPs, simpler for consumers and employees to use, and easier for service providers to deploy and manage. The Alliance also provides standards for secure device onboarding to ensure the security and efficiency of connected devices operating in cloud and IoT environments.

What are Passkeys

Passkeys are a form of passwordless authentication that promises to eliminate many of the issues that come with traditional passwords. Instead of relying on something you have to remember, passkeys use modern security methods like biometrics (fingerprint or face recognition), hardware keys, or device-based authentication (e.g., your phone, laptop or yubikey).

In simple terms, a passkey is a unique cryptographic key stored securely on your device. When you want to log in, your device authenticates you using this key, often combined with a biometric method like a fingerprint or facial scan. The best part? You never have to see or remember the key. It’s stored securely, and only your device can access it.

Why Passkeys are better

Stronger Security: Passkeys use advanced cryptography and are resistant to phishing, credential stuffing, and other attacks that target passwords. Because they are tied to your specific device and can’t be reused across different sites, they significantly reduce the risk of a security breach.

No More Passwords: With passkeys, there’s no need to remember or store passwords. The authentication process becomes as simple as scanning your fingerprint or looking at your phone’s camera. This is not only more secure but also more convenient for users.

Improvement of User-Experience: Passkeys enable a faster, frictionless authentication experience. Instead of typing a password or waiting for a code to be sent to your phone, you authenticate in seconds using biometrics or a hardware key.

Device-Based Security: Because passkeys are tied to your specific device, they can’t be phished or stolen like traditional passwords. Even if someone tries to trick you into giving up your login credentials, the passkey won’t work on another device. This makes passkeys an incredibly secure option for protecting sensitive data.

Future-Proof and Scalable: Passkeys are already supported by major platforms like Google, Apple, and Microsoft, and they’re becoming easier to implement in web apps and services thanks to technologies like FIDO2 and WebAuthn. This means adopting passkeys is not just a trend, but the future of online security.

How to migrate to Passkeys

Migrating to passkeys might sound complex, but with the right tools and approach, it’s becoming easier for developers to implement passkey authentication in their products. Here are the key steps for migrating:

Start with WebAuthn and FIDO2: The WebAuthn and FIDO2 standards are designed to make passwordless authentication easy to integrate into web and mobile applications. Start by researching these technologies and incorporating them into your product’s login and authentication workflows.

Build Passkey Support Gradually: Instead of making a sudden switch from passwords to passkeys, start by offering passkeys as an additional option for login. Let your users try it out and gradually phase out passwords as passkeys gain popularity.

Offer Multiple Authentication Options: While passkeys are the future, it’s important to cater to all types of users. Offering both password and passkey authentication can help ease the transition and accommodate users who might not be ready to switch.

Learn more about Passkeys

If you’re ready to dive deeper into the world of passkey authentication and want to start integrating it into your digital products, here are some highly recommended resources to get you started:

WebAuthn Overview — MDN Web Docs: This comprehensive guide from MDN Web Docs provides an excellent overview of the Web Authentication API (WebAuthn), which is at the heart of passkey authentication. It covers the basics of how the API works, its benefits, and how to implement it in web applications.

FIDO Alliance — FIDO2 & WebAuthn Standards: The FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) Alliance is the driving force behind passwordless authentication. Their website offers detailed documentation on the FIDO2 and WebAuthn standards, along with developer guides and whitepapers that explain how passkeys work and how they can be adopted in digital products.

Apple’s Passkeys Overview: Apple has fully embraced passkeys as part of its ecosystem. This page provides a detailed introduction to passkeys, including how they integrate with Apple devices, as well as technical documentation for developers who want to implement passkeys in their apps for iOS, macOS, and other Apple platforms.

Google’s Passkeys Guide: Google has also integrated passkeys into its ecosystem. This guide is a great starting point for developers looking to implement passkeys in Android applications or Google services. It includes documentation, developer guides, and best practices for a smooth transition to passwordless authentication.

Microsoft’s Passwordless Authentication: Microsoft has been a strong advocate for passwordless authentication. This guide provides a deep dive into their passwordless options, including passkeys, and how to integrate them into your organization using Azure AD and other Microsoft services.

WebAuthn Guide — Yubico: Yubico, makers of hardware security keys, has a detailed guide on implementing WebAuthn for passkeys. This resource is especially useful for developers interested in incorporating hardware security keys as part of their passkey implementation.

Passkeys.dev: Passkeys.dev is a community-driven resource specifically focused on passkey authentication. It provides useful tutorials, best practices, and developer tools for those looking to add passkeys to their apps.

Conclusion: Embrace the Future of Authentication

Passwords have been the backbone of online security for decades, but they’re no longer enough to protect users from modern threats. My experience of forgetting all my passwords showed me firsthand how flawed the system is. It’s time for digital products to embrace the future and adopt passkeys an innovative, secure, and user-friendly solution that not only protects users but also improves the overall experience.

So, why are you still using passwords when passkeys offer a better way? Now is the time to make the switch and start building a safer, more convenient digital future.