Passwordless Authentication: The Future of Secure Online Access

Redazione RHC : 9 December 2025 10:08

Using passwords to access online accounts is no longer as secure as it once was. In fact, passwords are now one of the most common vulnerabilities used by cybercriminals to gain access to our data. Many users use the same password for multiple services or choose passwords that are too simple. Others save them insecurely so they can remember them. The result? A single breach can put multiple accounts at risk simultaneously.

A staggering figure: 244 million leaked passwords were found on a single criminal forum. And half of the world’s internet users were exposed to attacks based on credential reuse.

For this reason, more and more companies and security experts are adopting passwordless authentication. This means you can access your accounts using more secure and convenient methods, such as fingerprint, facial recognition, or a physical key linked to your device. These systems simplify users’ lives while simultaneously making hackers’ jobs much more difficult. Not only that, they offer effective protection against scams like phishing and reduce the risks associated with weak or stolen passwords.

The Big Myths About Passwordless Authentication

While the benefits are clear, many people remain skeptical. There are some myths surrounding passwordless authentication that keep users from taking the next step and abandoning their old passwords altogether.

1. Passwordless authentication is less secure than multi-factor authentication (MFA). In fact, the opposite is true. Passwordless authentication is essentially a form of multi-factor authentication: it verifies both the device used and something only the user can provide—such as a fingerprint, face, or PIN. During login, the device unlocks a unique digital key that is never shared online. The biometric data or PIN remains securely stored on the device and does not travel online. This approach makes it extremely difficult for a cybercriminal to steal or impersonate a login. Essentially, it offers the same protection as MFA, but with a simpler experience and without the need to remember or type a password.
2. A PIN is just another password. At first glance, a PIN may seem like a simple password. In reality, it works very differently, and more importantly, more securely. The PIN is never sent over the internet or stored on external servers: it only unlocks the device locally, directly on the phone or computer. This means there’s nothing a hacker can steal remotely. Furthermore, while the PIN can be short, the device limits the number of possible guesses. Anyone who tries to guess it risks locking everything out, and to do so, they would still need to physically have the device in their hands. For even greater protection, the PIN can be combined with biometric methods such as fingerprint or facial recognition, making access even more secure and personal.
3. Passwords are more secure than biometric data. Modern biometric systems—such as Apple’s Face ID or Windows Hello—use advanced technologies such as 3D mapping, infrared light, and liveness detection, which is the ability to recognize whether a real person is in front of the device. All of this makes it extremely difficult, almost impossible, to fool the system. In passwordless authentication, the face or fingerprint only serves to unlock a private key stored on the device and never shared online. This means the key cannot be stolen or reused on other sites. Because the entire process occurs locally, biometrics also offers effective protection against remote attacks that often target traditional passwords.
4. Biometric data is secret and can be disclosed. Many people fear that using biometrics—such as fingerprint or facial recognition—means handing over their personal data, exposing it to the risk of theft. This fear often stems from news about biometric surveillance, where information is stored in large central databases. But passwordless authentication works differently: biometric data always remains on the device and is only used to unlock a local security key. This information is never sent online or shared with other systems. The difference is crucial: biometric surveillance identifies people remotely by comparing data against millions of records, while biometric authentication—such as Face ID or Windows Hello—simply confirms that you are the one using the device. Everything happens locally, keeping data private and secure.
5. Passwordless does not protect against phishing. A passwordless system already integrates several defenses against modern phishing techniques. Each login is performed using a unique digital key, which is stored only on the device used and is never sent to the website. Furthermore, passwordless solutions automatically verify that the user is visiting a legitimate site and not a rogue copy: the browser verifies authenticity before allowing the device to complete the login. Furthermore, only trusted device software can initiate the login request. Suspicious apps or push phishing attempts are blocked in their tracks, making attacks much more difficult and, in most cases, completely ineffective.

Bottom line: easier and safer access for everyone

Passwordless authentication isn’t just a technological advancement, but a step toward a simpler and more secure way to protect user identities. Reducing password use means reducing the risk of theft or online fraud and making security more accessible to everyone.

Redazione
The editorial team of Red Hot Cyber consists of a group of individuals and anonymous sources who actively collaborate to provide early information and news on cybersecurity and computing in general.

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