The Death of the Password: Is It Inevitable?

Talk about the “death of the password” has been going round for quite some time now. With technology advancing at such a rapid pace, and with passwords presenting numerous security issues, it is not surprising that alternatives to manually entering passwords are becoming popular.

People tend to use the same passwords across multiple accounts, not to mention choosing passwords that are easy to guess. Then there’s the issue of not updating or changing passwords regularly.

As such, log-in tech such as USB keys, fingerprint detectors, eye scanners, and facial recognition software is starting to get more mainstream attention.

But does this really mean the death of the password?

The FIDO (Fast Identity Online) Alliance was founded in 2012 and has received the support of major brands such as the Bank of America, MasterCard, and Microsoft. The Alliance’s goal is to establish a security protocol that will be the standard – a protocol that will be used in “post password” era.

And they are gaining traction.

On the other hand, there are arguments that validate the idea that passwords will not totally disappear – not in the near future.

Whatever your stance on the death of the password may be, it is interesting to learn about the different alternatives to using one-time passwords. Some of these alternatives are already in place, being used by some entities. Some of them are still to be rolled out, while others are existent but not certified.

The guys at SSLs.com have created a graphic detailing the different technologies that will ultimately lead to the death of the password. While this may not happen in the next few years, the number of alternatives seem to make it a question of when and not if.

Via SSLs.com

What do you think of a future with no passwords?