link: Authentication
Password-Based Authentication
Overview
Password-based authentication is one of the most common methods for verifying user identity. It involves a user providing a secret combination of characters, known only to them, to gain access to a system or application. Despite its widespread use, this method has both advantages and limitations.
Common Types
- HTTP Basic Authentication: A simple authentication scheme built into the HTTP protocol where the user credentials are encoded and sent with each request.
- Session-Cookie Authentication: Involves creating a session on the server side after the user logs in. The server stores session information and sends a session identifier (session cookie) to the client, which is included in subsequent requests to maintain the session.
- Token-Based Authentication: Involves the user providing credentials to receive a token, which is then used for subsequent requests instead of resending the username and password.
How Password-Based Authentication Works
- User Request: The user attempts to access a system or application.
- Credentials Submission: The user enters their username and password.
- Verification: The system verifies the credentials against stored information.
- Access Granted: If the credentials match, the user is granted access.
Best Practices
Best Practices
- Enforce Strong Passwords: Require passwords to meet complexity criteria (e.g., length, special characters).
- Hashing and Salt: Store passwords securely by hashing and salting them.
- Regular Updates: Encourage users to update passwords regularly.
- Monitor and Alert: Implement monitoring and alerting for suspicious login attempts.
- Account Lockout Mechanism: Lock accounts after multiple failed login attempts to prevent brute-force attacks.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Simplicity: Easy to implement and use.
- Ubiquity: Supported by nearly all systems and applications.
- Cost-Effective: Requires minimal additional infrastructure or technology.
Cons
- Security Risks: Susceptible to attacks such as brute-force, phishing, and credential stuffing.
- User Management: Can be cumbersome to manage, especially with password resets and recoveries.
- Password Fatigue: Users often struggle with remembering multiple complex passwords, leading to poor practices like reusing passwords.