Authentication

What is authentication?

Authentication is the process by which the identity of a person, system or application is verified. In a digital environment, this means that a user must prove that they are who they say they are before they can access certain systems, data or networks. This can be done through various factors such as passwords, biometric data or tokens. Faulty authentication is often the first point of attack for hackers, which is why it must always be designed to be robust and secure.

What is the difference between authentication, authentication and authorization?

Authentication, authentication and authorization are three key terms in information security that are often confused but have different meanings:

1. Authentication: The process by which an entity (e.g. a user or system) states or asserts its identity. This is the first step in which someone provides, for example, their username or another form of identification. This can also be referred to as “assertion of identity”.
2. Authentication: The identity specified in the authentication is checked here. The aim is to ensure that the claimed identity is actually correct. This is done by providing proof of something the user possesses (e.g. a password, a token or biometric data). Authentication therefore means proving that you really are the person you claim to be.
3. Authorization: This step takes place after successful authentication. Authorization determines which permissions and access rights an authenticated entity has. It is therefore decided which resources the user can access or which actions they can perform. An example would be the decision as to whether a user is allowed to read, edit or delete certain files after logging in.

To summarize: First the identity is claimed (authentication), then proven (authentication), and finally it is determined what the person is allowed to do (authorization).

What types of authentication are there?

There are different types of authentication, each offering different levels of security. The most important are

• Password-based authentication: Classic method in which a user enters a password. It is widely used, but increasingly insecure when used alone.
• Two-factor authentication (2FA): Supplements the password with a second factor, such as an SMS or app-based authentication (e.g. Google Authenticator). It offers a significantly higher level of security.
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA): Requires multiple authentication steps based on different factors. This can be something you know (password), something you have (a physical token), or something you are (biometric data).
• Biometric authentication: Uses physical characteristics such as fingerprints, facial recognition or voice recognition to identify users. This is particularly difficult to falsify, but can pose data protection challenges.
• Token-based authentication: After authentication, a user receives a token that is then used for further requests. This is standard for many modern web applications (e.g. OAuth or JWT).

What is two-factor authentication (2FA)?

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an authentication method that requires two independent verification factors to confirm the user’s identity. Usually you combine something the user knows (e.g. a password) with something they have (e.g. a one-time password on their cell phone).

Why is 2FA important? 2FA significantly increases security because even if one factor (such as a stolen password) is compromised, access is still blocked by the second factor. Attackers would therefore have to compromise both the password and the second device or biometric factor, which is much more difficult.

How secure are passwords these days?

Passwords alone can no longer be considered secure, especially when users use weak or frequently used passwords. Threats such as phishing, password data leaks or brute force attacks make reliance on password-only authentication risky.

Recommendations for secure passwords:

• Use long passwords (at least 12-16 characters).
• Use a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters.
• Use a unique password for each account (this is easier to manage with a password manager).
• Wherever possible, activate 2FA or MFA as an additional security layer.

What are the best practices for password management?

Some of the best practices include:

• Use long and unique passwords for each platform.
• Use password managers such as LastPass or Bitwarden to securely store and generate complex passwords.
• Make regular password changes, especially for sensitive accounts or after security incidents.
• No reuse of passwords: One of the biggest risks is that a hacked password is used on multiple platforms, putting multiple accounts at risk.

What is passwordless authentication?

Passwordless authentication is a modern method that does away with conventional passwords. Instead, other verification methods such as one-time passwords (OTP), login links, biometric data or security tokens are used. This method reduces the risk of passwords being stolen or guessed. Example: When logging into a system, a one-time link is sent to the user’s e-mail address. By clicking on this link, the user is automatically logged in.

How does biometric authentication work?

Biometric authentication uses a user’s physical characteristics to verify their identity. The most common methods include:

• Fingerprint scan: The user’s fingerprint is compared with a previously saved pattern.
• Face recognition: The structure and features of the face are analyzed and compared with a stored image.
• Iris scan: The iris, the colored segment of the eye, has unique patterns in each person that are used for authentication.
• Voice recognition: Analyzes the unique sound profile of a user’s voice.

Security: Biometrics offer a higher level of security compared to passwords, but there are risks involved, such as the question of what happens if biometric data is stolen – a fingerprint cannot be changed like a password.

What is Single Sign-On (SSO)?

Single Sign-On (SSO) is an authentication method where a user only has to log in once to gain access to multiple applications or services without having to re-authenticate for each service. SSO saves time and increases security as users are not forced to memorize multiple passwords. A common example of SSO is the use of Google or Facebook accounts to log in to different websites.

How does token-based authentication work?

With token-based authentication, the user receives a token – an encrypted key – after successfully logging in, which is used for further interactions with the system. This is the basis of many modern web applications. A frequently used token standard is JWT (JSON Web Token). Security aspects: Tokens are usually time-limited and can only be used for certain actions. This protects against a variety of attacks, such as session interception.

How can I increase the security of my authentication system?

Companies should implement the following steps to increase authentication security:

• Introduce multi-factor authentication (MFA) to ensure that a second factor is required even for stolen passwords.
• Tighten password guidelines: Require longer and more complex passwords, force password changes.
• Use biometrics where it makes sense.
• Provide phishing training for employees, as many attacks are aimed at stealing login credentials.
• Implement Single Sign-On (SSO) to simplify and centralize the management of credentials.

What is phishing and how does it jeopardize authentication?

Phishing is a method by which attackers attempt to trick users into revealing sensitive information such as passwords, credit card details or other login credentials, usually through fake emails or websites. As phishing aims to steal authentication data directly from the user, it is one of the most common threats to authentication systems.

Protective measures:

• Implementation of MFA reduces the risk considerably, as a stolen password alone is not enough.
• Anti-phishing tools and training can better educate and protect users.

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