Biometrics ranked as the authentication method consumers consider the best login experience and the method they consider most secure for a second year, according to an international survey for the FIDO Alliance as part of its fourth annual Online Authentication Barometer.
The survey pointed to a cost to businesses still relying on legacy password sign-ins – especially among younger generations. Some 42 per cent abandoned a purchase in the last month due to a forgotten password, rising to over half of those under 35. Similarly, half of consumers (56pc) have given up accessing a service online because they couldn’t remember a password in the last month, rising to 66pc of those under 35.
The survey offered other signs that password usage and trust are stagnating globally as more secure and user-friendly passwordless alternatives become available. Overall, the number of times consumers enter a password manually daily decreased again from 2023. When consumers were asked about how they have improved account security in the last year, numbers continued to decline among those who increased the complexity of a password, while those choosing biometrics and using authenticator apps have steadily risen.
Comment
Andrew Shikiar, CEO at FIDO Alliance said: “Consumer expectations are changing, and this data should serve as a clear call to action for brands and organizations still relying on outdated password systems. Consumers are actively seeking out and prefer passwordless alternatives when available, and brands that fail to adapt are losing patience, money, and loyalty – especially among younger generations.
“When consumers know about passkeys, they use them. Excitingly, 20 per cent of the world’s top 100 websites and services already support passkeys. As the industry accelerates its efforts toward education and making deployment as simple as possible, we urge more brands to work with us to make passkeys available for consumers. The pace of passkey deployment and usage is set to accelerate even more in the next 12 months, and we are eager to help brands and consumers alike make the shift.”
About FIDO Alliance
The FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) Alliance was formed in July 2012 for setting authentication standards. Visit www.fidoalliance.org.
Holiday info
Most UK holiday shoppers say they are swayed by good holiday deals and give away their personal information to receive a discount when shopping. Yet, such discounts could come with the risk that those personal details might end up on the dark web, where cyber criminals do their shopping, warns the cyber firm Norton. Shopping for deals isn’t a bad idea, but sharing your information can be incredibly dangerous as anything personal can be tied back to you and may end up in the wrong hands, says Iskander Sanchez-Rola, Director of Innovation for Norton. He says: “This could happen in a few ways – perhaps the company you give your personal information to operates legitimately but lacks the technical structure and security to protect your data. This makes these companies more susceptible to breaches, which could mean your data will end up on the dark web. In fact, there have been over 200 data breaches involving UK companies in 2024 alone. On the other hand, criminals may be advertising these discounts to lure in consumers to sell their personal information to the highest bidder.”
It’s no coincidence, the cyber firm adds, that – while shoppers are keen for discounts – malvertising and adware are the cyber threats that increase the most dramatically during the holiday season. Malvertising attacks are malicious ads often seen by users when searching for something such as sales, during last year’s holiday shopping season. Adware, malicious software often distributed via malvertising, has also increased, the firm adds. Norton recommends that shoppers use multiple tactics to protect their personal details when looking for discounts online this holiday season:
– Think twice: Is the discount worth potentially sacrificing your digital identity?
– Shield your data: Use an alternative email address that is not your usual address that you use for your daily, personal life.
– Do your research: Try to find codes from the retailer directly and not third-party providers. Coupons do exist! Check their social media for promotions.
