Passwords have long been the standard for digital security, but they come with risks like phishing and data breaches. Weak or reused passwords make us vulnerable to attacks, often putting both personal and company data at risk.
The solution? Passkeys. These are passwordless credentials that offer stronger security by eliminating many of these vulnerabilities. As businesses shift to passkeys, they get a safer, more convenient way to authenticate users, reducing the risks tied to traditional passwords.
By combining passkeys with OTP verification, you can create a multi-layered defense that significantly enhances security against online threats. While passkeys provide a seamless and secure method of authentication, OTPs act as a backup, adding an extra layer of protection in case of device changes or account recovery scenarios.
What is a passkey?
Passkeys are an advanced form of passwordless authentication that provides a more secure and user-friendly alternative to traditional passwords. They combine a browser API with an authentication device, such as your phone or computer, to generate unique credentials for each website or service you use.
This means that a passkey created for one site can only be used on that specific site, offering an added layer of protection against phishing attacks and unauthorized access.
One of the key features of passkeys is their built-in multi-factor authentication. In addition to possessing the authentication device, you must also complete an action, such as scanning your fingerprint or entering a PIN. This dual verification ensures that even if a device is lost or stolen, bad actors cannot easily access your accounts.
Passkeys can also be synchronized across multiple devices through passkey managers, like those offered by Apple or Google. This makes it easy to sign into your accounts on different devices or recover access if you lose your original authentication device.
Passkeys' security and reliability are based on widely recognized standards developed by the W3C and FIDO Alliance, including WebAuthn and the Client to Authenticator Protocol (CTAP). These protocols make passkeys one of the most robust forms of authentication available today, ensuring that your online accounts remain secure and easy to access.
What technology goes behind passkeys?
Passkeys utilize public key cryptography, ensuring that the private portion of the credential is never shared with the website and no sensitive data is exchanged between the user’s device and the server.
To enable passkeys, an authenticator, such as a mobile device or password manager that supports this feature, generates a pair of cryptographic keys for each account. One key, the public key, is stored on the site where the account is created, while the private key remains securely stored on the authenticator.
When logging into an account with a passkey, the authenticator and the website exchange data to confirm the user’s identity without transmitting any secret information that hackers could intercept.
Passkeys are generated using the WebAuthn API, a widely supported technology across modern browsers and operating systems. The software largely handles the underlying complexity, and the user is only required to approve the creation or use of the passkey. This approval can be granted through biometric checks like fingerprint scanning or facial recognition or by entering a local device PIN or password.
You can bind passkeys to a specific device or sync them across multiple devices. Device-bound passkeys are typically created on physical security keys, such as a YubiKey or a Titan Security Key, while synced passkeys are usually managed by a password manager.
How do passkeys authenticate?
1. Account creation with passkeys: To create an account with passkeys, you must use compatible devices and systems that support passwordless authentication. This typically includes devices with biometric capabilities (like fingerprint scanners or facial recognition) and software that supports passkey standards like WebAuthn. The process securely stores the user’s cryptographic keys, linking them to the account.
2. Secure login through biometrics or PIN: Once the account is set up, you can log in securely using the device’s built-in biometrics (such as fingerprint or facial recognition) or a PIN. This ensures that access is restricted to the authorized user, enhancing security by tying authentication to something unique to the user—whether that’s a biometric trait or a personal code.
3. Cross-Device functionality with synchronization: Passkeys also support cross-device functionality, allowing users to access their accounts seamlessly from multiple devices. Passkeys can be synchronized through passkey managers (like those built into Apple or Google’s systems), so users can easily log in from different devices and even recover access if they lose or switch their authenticator.
What are the security advantages of passkeys?
Passkeys offer several advantages over traditional passwords. While passwords rely on a shared secret—meaning the password is transmitted over the network to the server and needs to be stored there—this opens up the risk of attackers potentially accessing this sensitive information.
To exploit a passkey, an attacker would need access to:
- The physical device.
- The biometric data (e.g., fingerprint, facial recognition, or PIN) used to unlock the device.
- Close proximity to the device to use Bluetooth for authentication.
- If the device is lost or stolen, the thief cannot access the data without the proper biometric authentication.
Each passkey is uniquely generated using robust encryption algorithms, which:
- Eliminates the risk of weak passwords that are easily guessed.
- Prevents the common practice of reusing passwords across multiple sites, reducing the likelihood of an attacker gaining access to multiple accounts if one password is compromised..
What are some challenges that come with passkeys?
While passkeys offer enhanced security, there are still some challenges and considerations to keep in mind.
Recovery and Device Loss
Losing a device with stored passkeys can lock users out of their accounts, as passkeys are tied to specific devices.
Adoption and Compatibility
Passkeys aren’t widely adopted yet, so some platforms still rely on traditional passwords. However, as more services integrate passkey support, this gap will close.
To ensure passkeys work seamlessly across various platforms, major tech companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft have teamed up with the FIDO Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
The FIDO Alliance has developed standardized protocols for passkey authentication, ensuring compatibility across devices and operating systems. This collaboration aims to create a secure, unified approach to authentication, eliminating the risks of relying on traditional passwords. Its goal is to create a more secure and user-friendly sign-in experience, which is why passkeys have become a key solution in the fight against online security threats.
Enhance account security with passkeys and Plivo’s SMS capabilities
Passkeys provide a seamless and secure method of passwordless authentication, but even the most advanced systems need reliable backup options.
Plivo’s SMS capabilities add a strong layer of protection by enabling OTP-based verification for account recovery, device changes, or fallback authentication scenarios. This combination ensures a layered security model that reduces the risk of unauthorized access while improving user experience.
Why choose Plivo’s SMS for authentication:
- Seamless integration: Plivo’s developer-friendly APIs allow for quick and easy integration into your authentication workflows. With detailed documentation and sample code, you can get started in no time.
- Global reach with superior infrastructure: Plivo’s robust network spans over 220+ countries, ensuring OTPs are delivered quickly and reliably worldwide.
📚 Something to note: Plivo promises 99.99% uptime so your users experience consistent performance wherever they are.
- Multi-channel flexibility: Provide users with options to receive OTPs via SMS, voice calls, or even WhatsApp, ensuring secure access regardless of their device or location.
- Cost-effective solutions: Transparent, pay-as-you-go pricing ensures businesses of all sizes can benefit from reliable OTP delivery without hidden costs.
- Advanced fraud prevention: Plivo’s Fraud Shield offers AI-driven protection against SMS pumping and other fraudulent activities, enhancing security while keeping costs in check.
- Zero compliance hurdles: Utilize pre-registered sender IDs and templates to simplify regulatory approvals and go live instantly in key markets like the US, UK, and India.
- Customizable workflows: Tailor OTP delivery with adjustable expiration times, retry logic, and other options to fit your specific security needs.
A layered approach to authentication
By combining passkey authentication with Plivo’s SMS-based OTP verification, you can offer a reliable fallback for users to recover accounts, authenticate new devices, or regain access when passkeys alone are insufficient.
This layered approach strengthens security, improves user trust, and ensures that authentication workflows remain seamless and secure.
Ready to enhance your authentication strategy? Contact us for a demo and discover how Plivo can help secure your users' accounts with reliable, global SMS authentication.
