Biometric authentication vs password-based authentication

Cybersecurity is more important than ever. With the rise of cyber attacks and data breaches, it is critical that we protect our personal information online. Authentication is a necessary step in this process, and there are two main methods of authentication: biometric and password-based.

Password-based authentication

Password-based authentication is the traditional method of authentication. It involves entering a username and password to gain access to a system or application. Passwords can vary in length and complexity, but they ultimately depend on the user to remember and protect them.

Pros

• Familiarity: People are used to password-based authentication and are more comfortable with it.

• Affordability: Password-based authentication is cheaper since it does not require additional hardware.

Cons

• Security risks: Passwords are prone to brute-force attacks, dictionary attacks, and phishing attempts. These risks increase as more people use weak and easy-to-guess passwords.

• Complexity: Users tend to forget passwords or write them down, which can lead to security breaches.

Biometric authentication

Biometric authentication involves verifying the user's identity through biological data, such as facial recognition, iris scanning, voice recognition, or fingerprint scanning. Biometric authentication relies on unique characteristics of the user that are more difficult to copy or steal.

Pros

• Security: Biometric data is unique to each individual, making it extremely difficult to breach.

• Convenience: Biometric authentication is convenient since it is faster and does not require remembering passwords.

Cons

• Accuracy: Biometric authentication can fail if the biometric data is not captured correctly or is disrupted by physical changes to the user, such as an injury or ageing.

• Costs: Biometric authentication requires additional hardware and software, which can be expensive.

Comparison

While biometric authentication offers more security than password-based authentication, it is not perfect. Password-based authentication is still widespread and frequently used because of its convenience and affordability.

Conclusion

Biometric authentication provides higher security for online authentication, but it comes at a cost. Password-based authentication is cheaper and more conventional but offers lower security. Ultimately, the choice between biometric authentication and password-based authentication depends on the user's preference and budget.

References

• Forsyth, R., & Mckay, R. (2018). Evaluating the performance of biometric control technologies. Journal of information technology & politics, 15(2), 174-190.

• Yan, J., Chen, Y., & Hu, Q. (2018). Security analysis of biometric authentication systems: A survey. Journal of Network and Computer Applications, 108, 82-102.