AP News reports that recent surveys from a digital identity trust company, indicate that 92% of consumers in the USA now believe that cybersecurity threats will outpace current cybersecurity measures. In a study conducted with 2000 Americans and 1000 British, responses indicate that average Americans now believe that the digital environment is inherently risky, with that risk continuing to rise. A surprising 91% of those surveyed showed an interest in taking extra personal digital security precautions, like multifactor authentication, rather than leaving their data entirely up to the protection of external systems.

The Password Is The Culprit

The survey also indicated that 68% of respondents felt that the traditional password security system is the most used yet simultaneously least trusted security measure implemented today. These consumer fears are, unfortunately, well-founded. For several reasons, traditional, single-factor passwords, as a cybersecurity measure, are one of the most vulnerable systems in today’s digital world.

If a password system is single-factor only, that means knowing a password grants total access to whatever is protected behind it. Multi-factor systems at least reinforce security by requiring something more than a password to grant access. However, the biggest issue with passwords is the continued use by many people of “weak passwords.” Most people prefer to use an easy and easy-to-remember password, and it’s not unusual for people to use the same password for multiple accounts.

These two traits combined make many consumers vulnerable. An easy or weak password means it can be easily guessed or even “brute-forced” through a process of elimination. If that password is also used for other accounts, that can potentially mean stealing the password for an online streaming service account can grant access to online shopping accounts, credit cards, and even bank accounts.

Unfortunately, even if a password is “strong” and uses a random string of alphanumeric characters if it is tied to a traditional, single-factor authentication system, it is still vulnerable. The consumer may have strong personal passwords to protect themselves, but they can still be stolen through a security breach, not with them, but with a company with which they hold an account. Businesses such as Yahoo, Sony, Twitter, eBay, LinkedIn, and many others have experienced data breaches where thousands—or even millions—of accounts were compromised and put consumers at risk through no fault of their own. 

Multifactor authentication, however, is making great strides in cybersecurity. If you’d like to give your customers an alternative to passwords and increase your digital security, learn more here about Nok Nok’s next-level multifactor authentication technology and passwordless security measures.

The Mac is still one of the most beloved computing devices, rivaling the ubiquity of the PC. As a result, Apple continues to improve new models and keep the operating system up-to-date, convenient, and easy for users. As India Today reports, macOS has recently developed a new version, dubbed “Ventura,” in the beta testing stages. When it finally rolls out, some useful new features are included that should be welcome by Mac users with various needs.

Enhanced iPhone Connectivity

The iPhone already has one of the best cameras on the market, and now, with the new Ventura features, Mac users will be able to take advantage of their iPhones as web cameras for use in online meetings. Users can register their iPhone with their Mac so that it’s simple enough to switch the Mac’s camera input to the paired iPhone instead when the time comes. It even allows the transfer of facetime calls from one device to another completely interchangeably.

Now all users need to do is ensure some appropriate mount is available for iPhones, and the expense of needing a dedicated webcam for their desktop or laptop computer is now a thing of the past. The Ventura macOS update takes even better advantage of the Apple ecosystem.

Better Security With Passwordless Authentication

A big feature that the Ventura macOS update includes is the implantation of the passkey system for passwordless authentication. Passkeys are a new evolution in cybersecurity; as the name implies, they eliminate the need for passwords. Passkeys are a form of passwordless authentication where two keys exist, a private key held only by a specific device, such as a phone or computer, and a public key stored in the cloud.

The two keys must interact with each other by sending encrypted puzzles that can only be decrypted and solved by the other key. As a result of this encrypted interaction, passwordless authentication makes it impossible for traditional password theft to occur. No password can be guessed or stolen because none are used, and even the verification system is encrypted so that more advanced forms of cybercriminal activity, such as monitoring online activity, are still indecipherable since the data traveling from one end to the other is encrypted.

A Safer Computer

Passwordless authentication through passkey systems is part of the ongoing effort by the Fast Identity Online Alliance, or FIDO, to create an easily implemented, industrywide standard that eliminates the vulnerabilities of the traditional password system. If you’re interested in implementing passkeys with increased cybersecurity, learn more here about Nok Nok’s next-level multifactor authentication technology and passwordless security measures.

The password may be the oldest digital security measure, but because of that, it shows its age and vulnerabilities. If it’s the only component of a single-factor security authentication mechanism, then guessing or stealing a password grants total access. Multiple accounts may be potentially compromised if that password is used for more than one account. So while the Internet continues to move toward a multifactor authentication future, the ubiquity of traditional passwords is still an issue today, and Apple now has a measure to help increase user security.

Knowing You Are At Risk

As covered by CNet Central, Apple now provides extra insurance for iOS users who still rely on passwords for some accounts. One of the biggest fears for password theft is that even if a user personally doesn’t have a password compromised or stolen, that theft can still occur if a large company with a user database gets breached. Criminals now on the “inside” have access to user data, including passwords.

Apple has a new measure in place that monitors data breaches with other companies and monitors affected users. Now, if an iOS user’s data and password are part of another company’s data breach, iOS users can get notified that they are now vulnerable and then quickly act to change the password for that compromised account to prevent any potential intrusion into their own data.

All iOS users have to do to enable this is the following:

• Open settings on the Apple device
• Scroll down and tap to select Passwords
• Unlock with Touch ID or your chosen password
• Tap to enable security recommendations
• Toggle “Detect Compromised Passwords” to ON

And now, iOS will monitor and inform you of whether your information is part of a data breach, giving you the early warning to take appropriate security response measures to change your password and protect your accounts and data.

Transitioning To The Future

Fortunately, while passwords are becoming increasingly vulnerable, better technologies are being implemented across systems and businesses. Next-level multifactor authentication, which uses more than one mechanism for verifying user legitimacy, is gaining widespread adoption thanks to universal standards being developed by the Fast Identity Online Alliance, or FIDO. Because of this, companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft cooperate with other businesses to ensure that passwords are eventually phased out, and much stronger, more resistant security mechanisms like passkeys are in place to protect people and businesses.

If you’re interested in passkeys and increased cybersecurity, learn more here about how Nok Nok manages passkeys to enable passwordless authentication.

As more businesses and private citizens continue to rely more and more on the Internet and third-party online applications and storage for their data and financial activities, security becomes a growing concern, and security breaches are even bigger. “Identity theft,” once an exotic crime that only cyber security experts had to worry about, is now an everyday threat for both people and corporations.

At the heart of this type of cyber security breach is the age-old security standard, the password, and that is one reason why passkeys, which eliminate passwords, are looming large in the future as technology companies collaborate.

The Password Weakness

There are two primary cybersecurity weaknesses to the traditional, single-authentication password system. The first is that the password is a single access system. A password is given to a system, and that system checks to see if the password is correct, regardless of who is providing that password. In other words, a stolen password grants complete access.

The other issue is inconvenience. The best, or “strong,” passwords are long, random strings of alphanumeric characters. Most people can’t remember these, despite their desirability, and so, to avoid that inconvenience, choose weak, easily guessed passwords, making passwords easier to steal.

The Passkey Difference

As The Indian Express explains, passkeys provide two crucial factors that eliminate passwords’ cybersecurity vulnerabilities. This system uses this next-level multifactor authentication, so there is more than one verification system. Passkeys eliminate the use of passwords and instead rely on the interaction of two different passkey systems, a public key, and a private key.

The public key is assigned to a network, and a private key is assigned to a device, like a phone or a laptop, so while there’s a chance a public key or a private key can be stolen, it is unlikely that theft can happen to both. Moreover, an encrypted “puzzle” is sent by the public key, which can only be decrypted and solved by the private key. The encrypted solution is then sent back to the public key, which decrypts and confirms success, thus preventing even online spying from stealing any information due to the encryption taking place during interactions. Because of this, the Fast Identity Online Alliance, or FIDO, is promoting the widespread adoption of passkeys and the FIDO technology behind them. Tech giants like Google and Apple are already implementing, with others like Amazon and Microsoft on the way. 

If you’re interested in passkeys and increased cybersecurity, learn more here about Nok Nok’s multifactor authentication technology and passwordless security measures.

Older, more traditional digital security systems use the familiar technique of password authentication. As long as the correct password is given, access is granted. However, in today’s business world, password systems are increasingly more vulnerable and prone to theft and intrusion. Fortunately, passwordless authentication systems are now widely available, and there are four major benefits, according to Entrepreneur.

Theft Reduction

When businesses use passwords, this system, especially if there is only a single point of authentication, is more vulnerable and can lead to more intrusions. Phishing and even brute force attempt like guessing at commonly used passwords all lead to break-ins which can result in identity theft and even stolen data or funds.

Passwordless authentication systems significantly reduce this chance of theft.

Negate Password-Based Attacks

Some of the most common forms of digital crime include “phishing,” which tricks victims into giving up their password, and “keylogging,” which is spyware that monitors what keys are being pressed on a keyboard. Passwordless authentication, however, completely nullifies any criminal attempts reliant on password-based activity.

Techniques such as biometrics that use facial, fingerprint, voice recognition, and passkeys, which rely on encrypted keys embedded in specific devices, are part of the new multifactor authentication system that repels all password-based attempts at theft.

Lower Expenses

Little things add up over time and the amount of time. The expense of handling issues related to password-based security is an unnecessary expenditure that can be reduced or eliminated through passwordless authentication.

Password storage and, more importantly, password administration can be costly. There are also time and financial expenses involved with password resets, password recovery, and dealing with the fallout of password theft when criminal activity occurs. Passwordless authentication reduces these expenses.

Improved User Experience

Customers prefer speed, efficiency, and convenience, but older password-based systems can impede all this. Having to remember complex passwords or managing a number of them can slow down log-ins, especially when customers can’t remember and need a reset to access their own data.

Passwordless authentication is faster, safer, and more convenient. Biometric authentication, for example, requires only what a user always has, such as their voice, fingerprint, or face. This means there is never a question of forgetting an important security element. With additional redundancies, such as passkeys for multifactor authentication, these systems can also be much more secure for everyone.

Increasingly more secure systems are evolving thanks to adopting FIDO technologies that use passwordless authentication systems. If you’re interested in how you can upgrade to passwordless authentication systems, read here to learn more.

Virtual private networks, or VPNs, offer a convenient technology solution for some computer users. With VPNs, users can create private, encrypted “virtual networks,” which are more secure than standard open networks and also provide a measure of anonymity. 

For example, one of the most common uses of VPNs is for global users to disguise a VPN as an American network and sign up for American versions of services that may differ from their local offerings. Similarly, using VPNs to fool a computer into believing the user is in another location unlocks different pricing tiers and schemes for airfare, resulting in paying lower airfare if an online vendor believes a user resides in one country versus another.

However, while this anonymity and extra level of control do provide additional cybersecurity, according to TechTarget Network, VPNs are still a less secure option to new protocols such as SDPs and zero-trust networks.

What Is An SDP?

SDP stands for software-defined perimeter. A typical network defines its “border” or “perimeter” through hardware. Printers, phones, security cameras, and even appliances are all detectable hardware that can be discovered and used to define and attack the perimeter of a network. A software-defined perimeter or SDP is like software “invisibility,” that hides all the hardware aspects of a network, rendering them invisible to conventional means of network detection.

As a result, typical cybersecurity threats such as server scanning, SQL injection, and denial of service are largely negated because these techniques can’t see or exploit an SDP. This is a big differentiator from a normal VPN, which, while encrypted, still runs on normal, unencrypted networks that are vulnerable to conventional cybersecurity attacks.

The Zero Trust Difference

In older cybersecurity practices, one verification is typically required at the beginning of a session and, once authenticated, grants full access. “Zero-Trust networks,” however, work on a different philosophy. Multiple authentications can be required for various interactions, and access to other parts of a network is often very limited, mitigating the amount of damage an unauthorized user can inflict, even if barriers to entry are bypassed.

This combination ensures that an SDP with a zero-trust network protocol is much more secure than a VPN alone. However, an SDP system is flexible enough to accommodate VPNs within its own network, adding even greater layers of cybersecurity for those needing it.

These measures and others, such as FIDO technologies that use passwordless authentication systems, are improving security, and you can read here to learn more.