Almost every application and user based website has a password and it has become a mandate for most online services and applications. Most users have become so used to these passwords that any attempts to change such systems with other options such as biometrics or two factor authentication programmes are always met with a lot of resistance. Furthermore, with every company wanting to use its own solution, it becomes extremely complex for people to use multiple applications of various companies if such systems were to be implemented.
The problems with the two factor authentication program
One of the biggest problems in implementing the two factor authentication program is that the internet is filled with old codes and this implementing new systems will simply cause users to hit a wall whenever they come in contact with applications or programs which do not support the new systems. To solve this problem, Google had come up with an application specific password which could allow the applications to work even on two factor authentication programs. However, recent studies proved that this password option was extremely vulnerable as people with basic hacking skills could hack into and reuse the passwords again and again. Thus, while the passwords were claimed to have been generated for single applications, the case was not so. This particular problem may have been fixed by Google but it still does not change the fact that the program still uses a password. The best solution in the long run is to move away from the use of a password based system and to move onto upgraded systems such as two factor authentication, biometrics, etc. The Google Authenticator is an excellent example of an option which programs can start using since it offers a great deal of security and reduces user vulnerability.
However, what most people need to understand that there is no magic available when it comes to online security. While there may be unnecessary layers which are sometimes completely useless, it’s always beneficial in having them. Furthermore, no security program is completely perfect and thus one must ensure to take all steps to ensure that their digital lives are safe.
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