Technology has long proven itself to be a valuable invention for humans. It has been a big help in fulfilling tasks for many individuals. Companies and government agencies have also been reliant on technology for their operations. But just like any other innovation, technology also comes with risks.
Since most transactions are now being done online, using passwords as ID verification can no longer suffice. Tech developers had to develop a more potent digital identity verification to protect users from cyber crimes.
While passwords are still in use today, it is no longer recommended. Many cyberattacks are rooted in this outdated security measure. Because of this, the technology industry developed multi-factor authentication (MFA), which was meant to support passwords and make them more secure.
However, cybercriminals are also improving their tactics. Phishing and SIM swapping are some of the techniques these fraudsters have used to breach the security webs of MFA.
Developers are now putting more emphasis on biometric technology to address growing cybersecurity issues. While the first recorded use of biometrics is dated to the 1800s, it was only in 2013 that it became a novelty technology in people’s everyday life. It was when Apple introduced fingerprint recognition to unlock their iPhones. This began the modern acceptance of biometric technology.
Currently, biometrics is seen as the future of cybersecurity. It uses human characteristics, such as fingerprint or facial features, for user identification. This means a device or an account can only be opened by its owner unless they permit another person to save their biometric data. And since it is more personal, it is more secure than other authentication methods.
Many business enterprises and government agencies now utilize this technology for their verification protocol. But some companies have run into legal and political trouble because of their approach to using biometric data. Because of this, debates regarding its privacy and ethical use have started arising.
Tech developers must comply with the pillars of ethical biometrics, which include explicit and informed consent to use biometrics. Additionally, biometric technology must be free of biases, regardless of one’s race, skin tone, or other characteristics. An opt-in approach must also be used rather than an opt-out model.
When it comes to privacy and other security concerns, users must be aware of security themes, such as human vulnerability. While biometric technology has been a reliable verification tool, some fraudsters were still able to break in. Even gigantic corporations are susceptible due to human error.
On August 2022, the customer engagement platform Twilio became a subject of a massive phishing campaign. The social engineering attack was designed to fool employees into giving their login credentials. The fraudsters were successful in stealing some of their data. This attack compromised more than 9,000 accounts at more than 130 organizations. The criminals obtained Okta identity credentials and MFA codes from users who received messages. These messages contain links to phishing sites that mimicked Twilio’s Okta authentication.
A solution to this concern and more security themes can be found in this article by authID.