Passwords are Dead: Alternative Authentication Methods

The idea of protecting information has been around for many centuries. Modern computers use a system of authentication to protect the machine from unauthorized access. One of the greatest challenges today is that the average user has about 40 personal and professional accounts that rely on user names and passwords for authentication. These logins are rarely unique, hardly ever changed, oftentimes simplistic, and rely on insecure "security questions" fallback options because they are regularly forgotten and reset [1]. The past few years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of data breaches of major corporations and government agencies and that number only continues to grow. These significant breaches make it now more important than ever to find some new ways to access private data. In order for us to stay safe and secure online, we must look at emerging technologies to conceptualize the future of login authentication. From biometrics to sound-based passwords to electronic tattoos and ingestible pills, the future holds numerous ways for us to interact with our machines in a safer and more efficient manner than ever before.