Some companies are beginning to
look into ways to use smartphones to replace the use of passwords. If users
could use their smartphone as a way to log in to various accounts, this would
increase security and make accessing your account easier. Some companies that
are trying out substitute password options are Google, Apple and Yahoo.
The point of a password is to
prevent other people from having access to your account. In order to properly
protect your account, users are recommended to use more complex passwords to
making hacking more difficult, along with different passwords for everything. Often
times people either make their password too easy, forget them, or use the same
password for everything which makes you more susceptible to hackers. Using
smartphones can increase security while making it so that the user doesn’t have
to remember complex passwords since it is difficult for a hacker to duplicate
someone’s phone rather than just their password.
Apple has created touch ID on their
new phones to replace having to use a password. This makes unlocking the phone
easier for the owner, and you don’t have to type your password in for others to
be able to see. Since Apple has implemented this technology many iOS apps, such
as Bank of America, are starting to use the technology as a new way to log in on their apps as well. This is convenient for users who no longer have to remember complicated passwords to access their accounts.
Google is testing having android
users log in by sending an alert to their phone, instead of typing in their
password. This is very similar to the new log in method by Yahoo called Account
Key. The only difference is Account Key uses the notification sent to the user’s
smartphone as an additional security measure by still requiring a password but sending
a notification to the user’s phone to verify the sign in before allowing the
user to sign in. For both companies, this feature added security feature makes sure that it is not
someone hacking into your account since they would have to have your phone as well.
Although these password-less
options could come in convenient in some situations, many times they may not be
helpful. There may be times when you are trying to access an account but you
don’t have your phone with you or it may not be charged and then you wouldn’t be
able to log in to your account. Technology can also be unreliable. Many people
have broken their home buttons or the software can have glitches. Relying too
heavily on technology is bound to have glitches at some point.
Sources:
After reading the articles and your comments, I am also interested in this new use of technology. Although this topic is not one I see companies necessarily pushing out and marketing, after reading this article I became more aware about how a vast majority of companies can use new innovations to replace passwords with systems like touch id and other forms of protection. In successfully doing so, industries can guarantee customers easier, highly secure protection systems. I agree with your comment, “often times people either make their password too easy, forget them, or use the same password for everything which makes you more susceptible to hackers”, because I have been through each of these before. This is especially true in today’s day and age because websites and companies are becoming stricter about what they will accept as a password. Although this is meant to add more protection to a person’s personal information or accounts, it is making things more complicated and difficult. Apple’s use of the touch id to allow access into ones smartphone is one example of a way companies are overcoming this problem and using information technology to become both more efficient, while also more secure. One specific company mentioned that has joined Apple in their use of the touch id system is Bank of America whose app allows the use of the touch id as a passcode. I use this application to keep track of my financial accounts and having the touch id access has been very helpful for me. I can easily access all my information without having to remember one of my many passwords, while also being confident that all my information is protected. I also agree with all the problems this type of security can bring. For example, a broken or malfunctioning touch id on a smartphone would bring problems for a business who only uses this form of password. However, I believe if companies continue researching and coming up with new ways to use this type of password protection, while also having backup forms of protection and access, they will be very successful.
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