by Laura Viebig
We’ve all heard about security breaches and data leaks where passwords have been stolen and personal information compromised. As traditional passwords become more vulnerable, it’s time for new solutions. One such solution is the concept of FIDO Passkeys. In this blog post, you will learn what passkeys are and how they can improve your online security.
What are FIDO passkeys?
FIDO Passkeys are an approach to secure authentication on the Internet that was developed as part of the FIDO 2.0 standard . Rather than relying on traditional passwords, passkeys use public-private key cryptography to confirm a user’s identity.
What types of passkeys are there?
There are two main types of passkeys: synced passkeys , which can be shared between devices and users, and hardware-bound passkeys, which only exist on a specific device.
Synchronized passkeys provide a convenient login because they are transmitted between devices over encrypted channels and can be easily recovered in the event of loss or device replacement. The use of synchronized passkeys opens up a new attack vector where the security of the cloud service (where the passkey is stored) is compromised unless phishing-resistant two-factor authentication is used.
Hardware-bound passkeys provide increased security as they only work on a specific device and require separate registration.
How passkeys work
Passkeys are based on the FIDO2 protocol , which enables secure and user-friendly authentication. How passkeys work can be described as follows:
Registration:
- When registering, the user creates a key pair consisting of a private key and a public key . The private key either stays on the device (hardware-bound passkeys) or is stored in your own cloud account, e.g. icloud (synchronized passkeys)
- The public key is transmitted to the external service’s server (the account you’re trying to log into) and stored along with a unique user identifier (e.g., an account ID).
Authentication:
- During authentication, the server sends a challenge to the user’s device.
- The user’s device generates a digital signature for the challenge using the private key.
- The signature is sent back to the server.
Verification:
- The server verifies the signature using the user’s public key previously stored during registration.
- If the signature is successfully verified, the authentication is considered successful and the user is granted access to the desired resource or service.
The security of the FIDO Passkey is based on the fact that the private key stays with the user. This significantly reduces the risk of the key being compromised by external attacks. In addition, different cryptographic keys are used each time you log in, further increasing security.
The advantages of FIDO passkeys
Strong security:
FIDO Passkeys offer robust security against phishing attacks, password theft and other common attack methods. Since the private key is not stored on the external service’s server, the risk of data leakage is significantly reduced.
User friendliness:
FIDO Passkeys are easy to use while providing strong security. They eliminate the need to remember complex passwords or change them regularly. With a simple push of a button or a fingerprint scan, you can securely authenticate yourself.
Interoperability:
FIDO Passkeys can be used across industries. They can be used for various services and platforms that support the FIDO standard. This means you can access multiple accounts with a single passkey without having to remember different passwords.
future security:
FIDO Passkeys are part of the FIDO 2.0 standard and are supported by a growing number of companies and platforms. This shows that this technology is on the rise and will become even more important in the future.
Conclusion
FIDO Passkeys offer a simple yet secure way of online authentication. Using a strong cryptographic method and physical devices to store the passkeys increases security and minimizes the risk of password theft and phishing attacks. In addition, they offer users a convenient way to log into different accounts without having to remember a multitude of passwords. FIDO Passkeys are undoubtedly a promising step towards a safer online future and can optimally complement your security concept.
If you need a tailor-made authentication concept for your company, our experts are at your disposal. We support you in developing a solution that meets your specific requirements. Contact us now to benefit from our expertise and improve the security of your company data. Trust in our experience and let us create an effective authentication system for your company together. Contact us and let us solve your authentication challenges.
MTRIX America Inc. 