Understanding the Password Problem

Alright, so passwords, right? We all hate 'em, but we're stuck with 'em… or are we? It's kinda crazy how much we rely on these things that are, let's be honest, super flawed.

Here's the deal with why passwords are a pain:

• They get phished all the time. Like, seriously, people fall for those emails pretending to be your bank.
• Password reuse is rampant. We're all guilty of using the same password on multiple sites, it's just too easy.
• Password management? A total nightmare. Who can remember a million different complex passwords? So, we end up using "password123", uh oh.
• And of course, breached passwords? They wind up on the dark web which cybercriminals can use them to get into your accounts and steal your private data. This can lead to identity theft, financial loss, and even reputational damage. Fortunately, a new technology called passkeys is emerging to tackle these very issues.

But hey, there's gotta be a better way, right? Let's dive into passkeys, and how they're stepping up to solve these problems.

Introducing Passkeys: A Passwordless Solution

Okay, so you're probably thinking, "passwords are annoying, but what's the alternative?" Well, that's where passkeys comes in! It's like, instead of typing in some complicated thing you'll forget, your device is the key.

Here's the gist:

• Passkeys are a safer way to log in. Think of it like a digital handshake between your device and the website, instead of shouting your secret password across the internet.
• They use fancy cryptographic key pairs. Basically, your device has a private key and the website stores a public key. They work together to verify it's really you.
• It's tied to your specific device, like your phone or laptop. So even if someone did somehow get a hold of your info, they'd need your actual device to log in.
• Plus, passkeys are phishing-resistant by design. This is because the authentication occurs directly between your device and the legitimate website, meaning the passkey itself is never transmitted in a way that a phishing site could intercept and reuse.

Ready to dive deeper? Next up, we'll explore exactly how passkeys work…

How Passkeys Work: A Technical Deep Dive

Ever wondered what actually happens when you ditch your password for a passkey? It's not magic, but it's pretty darn clever. Let's break down the nerdy details, shall we?

So, first things first: you gotta register your device with the website or app. It goes something like this:

• You kick things off by choosing to create a passkey. Simple enough, right?
• Then, your device does its thing and generates a cryptographic key pair. Think of it as a secret handshake –one key stays with you (private), and one gets shared (public).
• That public key heads over to the service and gets stored. They'll use it to verify it's really you later.
• To keep your private key safe, you'll need to prove it's you with something like your fingerprint, face, or that trusty PIN.

 sequenceDiagram
    participant UserDevice as Device
    participant Website
    Device->>Website: Initiate Passkey Creation
    Website->>Device: Request Key Generation
    Device->>Device: Generate Key Pair (Private & Public)
    Device->>Website: Send Public Key
    Website->>Website: Store Public Key
    Website->>Device: Request User Verification
    Device->>Device: Verify User (Biometric/PIN)
    Device->>Website: Authentication Confirmation

Okay, you're all signed up. Now how do you actually log in without a password?

• You try to log in to the site or app, like normal.
• The service says, "Hey, prove it's you!" using that public key they stored earlier.
• Your device whips out your private key and creates a fancy digital signature.
• The service uses its stored public key to verify that the signature was indeed created by the corresponding private key on your device, confirming your identity. If it matches, boom – you're in! This successful verification is what we mean by 'Authentication Confirmation'.

 sequenceDiagram
    participant UserDevice as Device
    participant Website
    UserDevice->>Website: Attempt Login
    Website->>UserDevice: Request Authentication
    UserDevice->>UserDevice: Use Private Key to Create Signature
    UserDevice->>Website: Send Digital Signature
    Website->>Website: Verify Signature with Public Key
    alt Signature Valid
    Website->>UserDevice: Grant Access
    else Signature Invalid
    Website->>UserDevice: Authentication Failed
    end

It's a bit more complicated under the hood, but that's the gist. Next, we'll discuss the benefits of passkeys.

Benefits of Using Passkeys

Passkeys? They're not just tech hype, they actually make things easier. Who'd a thunk it?

• No more password resets, as you're no longer relying on memorized passwords that can be forgotten.
• Login is faster using your fingerprint or face. It's way easier than typing some crazy password. like who even remembers those anymore?
• It works across your devices. This is typically achieved through secure cloud synchronization tied to your account or operating system, ensuring your passkeys are available on all your registered devices. So, you're not stuck using just your phone or laptop.

Up next, let's see how passkeys stacks up to other methods.

Passkeys in Software Development

So, you're thinking about using passkeys in your apps? Good choice! It's where things are headed, and honestly, it's not as scary as it sounds.

• Start with the Web Authentication api (WebAuthn). It's your friend. It lets you hook into the browser's built-in passkey support. Think of it as the translator between your app and the user's device.
• Leverage fido alliance standards. This is important for making sure your passkeys work across different platforms and devices. You don't want to lock users in, right?
• Securely store and retrieve passkeys. Treat them like gold, because, well, they are. Consider using encrypted databases, adhering to best practices for key management, and exploring specialized identity providers.
• Don't ditch passwords completely just yet. Offer passkeys as an option alongside existing methods for a smooth transition.

It's all about making it as seamless as possible for the user.

*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from MojoAuth - Advanced Authentication & Identity Solutions authored by MojoAuth - Advanced Authentication & Identity Solutions. Read the original post at: https://mojoauth.com/blog/what-are-passkeys-and-how-they-work