Page 106 - Cyber Defense eMagazine for July 2020

A Passwordless Future: Will Biometric Identification

Replace Passwords?

By Joshua Frisby, Founder of PasswordManagers.co

From Face ID to scanning your fingerprint to unlock your phone, biometric authentication is weaved into
almost every device that we rely on. It has been so seamlessly integrated that it has become somewhat
second-nature in the digitally dominant world that we live in.

While not needing to enter, or remember, a password is extremely convenient, we must ask: Will
biometric authentication replace traditional passwords altogether? And most importantly: Is it safe?

We have become so accustomed to using biometric authentication but the truth is that while biometrics
offer many advantages, it also comes with several drawbacks. Let’s take a closer look.

Is There a Need to Replace Passwords?

Login details and credentials are susceptible to theft and are often targeted by hackers. In fact, Verizon’s
Data Breach Investigations Report concluded that up to 81% of data breaches are due to hackers being
able to gain access by leveraging weak, reused, or stolen passwords. With the level of exposure to
cybercrime dependent on where you reside, having a fool-proof method to login into your accounts is
crucial to secure digital infrastructures, devices, and identities.

Cyber Defense eMagazine –July 2020 Edition 106
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