On-Device Authentication Month: The Funeral March of the Password

May has come to an end and with it must go On-Device Authentication Month, our five week focus on the biometric authentication technologies replacing passwords online and across the vertical markets. For the entire month we dedicated feature articles, industry news coverage and the latest entry in our renowned webinar series to the on-device authentication paradigm forwarded by the FIDO Alliance, and it turned out to be the perfect time: right on the heels of the announcement of the FIDO2 standards that will finally lead to the death of the password.

Let’s take a look back on the highlights from On-Device Authentication Month:

The Funeral March of the Password

As mentioned above, the on-device conversation got a shot in the arm in late April with the announcement of FIDO2 standards that are enabling the world’s most used internet browsers to cut password logins out of the online authentication equation. Starting the month off, then, it was imperative we set the stage with a primer about on-device biometrics, and the current state of the industry. The links below will get you up to speed on the state of the war on passwords, and give further context on why it’s finally time to move beyond secret-sharing for protecting our online access.

On-Device Authentication Month: The Primer

The Password Has Outlived its Efficacy, Says FIDO Head

The Bright Future of Online Authentication

Saying the password is dead, long live biometrics, is one thing, but what will a post-password internet look like? In week two of On-Device Authentication Month we illustrated how and why biometrics are set to replace passwords. Shortly thereafter, Facebook joined the FIDO Alliance board of directors, bringing the internet one step closer to its strong authentication based future. Follow the links below to find out more:

On-Device Authentication Month: The Post-Password Internet

Facebook Officially Enters the War on Passwords, Joins FIDO Board

The Devices in Question

Standards are a major part of the post-password equation, but when we talk about implementing biometric authentication in the on-device paradigm, we also need to talk about the devices in question. That’s why FindBiometrics Head Writer Alex Perala dedicated week three of On-Device Authentication Month to the post-password technology that will enable strong authentication online, whether it’s Face ID, plug’n’play fingerprint readers, security keys, or biometric software. Read the following article to learn all about the technology we’ll be using to authenticate online in the near future:

On-Device Authentication Month: A Range of Post-Password Solutions

Listen to the Experts

On-Device Authentication Month culminated with an expert webinar, Preparing for a Post-Password Internet. Airing live, on Wednesday May 30, the hour-long presentation was a co-hosted event from FindBiometrics and the FIDO Alliance. After a series of quick audience polls illustrating audience attitudes towards authentication, FIDO Executive Director Brett McDowell provided an update on his consortium’s standards. With the stage set, the webcast opened into an expert panel discussion featuring industry experts: James Ahern, CTO, Daon; David Benini, Vice President, Marketing & Product, Aware; Rajiv Dholakia, Vice President, Products, Nok Nok Labs; Peter O’Neill, President, FindBiometrics; and, of course, FIDO’s Brett McDowell.

The webcast covered a wide range of topics including FIDO2, the vertical markets embracing on-device, and how biometrics can empower companies to comply with new GDPR and PSD2 regulations. Near the end of the panel discussion McDowell even shed light on FIDO’s emerging efforts in providing biometric certification – something much needed in the rapidly proliferating consumer biometrics space. The webinar in its entirety is available to watch, right here:

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Thank you for joining us throughout May for On-Device Authentication Month. For all things biometrics and authentication related, stay posted to FindBiometrics and our sister site Mobile ID World.

On-Device Authentication Month is made possible by our sponsors: Nok Nok Labs, Aware, Inc., and Daon.

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May 31, 2018 – by Peter B. Counter