This can be described as one of the landmark agreements between major browsers, which will introduce a quantum leap in the overall experience of browsing the Internet.
Soon, every major browser will support biometric authentication of users, thereby eliminating the need to enter passwords.
However, there remains a concern for data privacy and protection of users’ data – A concern which is even valid for Aadhaar system, which relies on biometric authentications.
Google, Microsoft, Mozilla Agree For Biometric Logins!
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has announced a major collaboration between Google, Microsoft and Mozilla, which will now allow all browsers to implement biometric authentications for users.
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is the global entity which maintains standards used across the web and Internet.
Besides W3C, FIDO Alliance has also supported this initiative. FIDO or Fast IDentity Online is an industry consortium to manage the issue of interoperability between various website, apps and online services.
What Is The Agreement?
Major Internet firms such as Google, Microsoft and Mozilla have now agreed to support Web Authentication (WebAuthn) for authenticating users.
Now, WebAuthn supports FIDO’s Client to Authenticator Protocol (CTAP), which enables an external device such as USB, Bluetooth, or NFC to authenticate the user, in case the user doesn’t have any biometric authentication device installed in their system.
It has been described that this new agreement and usage of biometric authentications will change the way Internet is being accessed right now.
W3C CEO Jeff Jaffe said,
“Security on the web has long been a problem which has interfered with the many positive contributions the web makes to society. While there are many web security problems and we can’t fix them all, relying on passwords is one of the weakest links. With WebAuthn’s multi-factor solutions we are eliminating this weak link,”
How Will The Internet Work Now?
Say, you wish to check your email on a public computer today. You will need to open the browser, enter the email id, and password.
This is quite unsafe, and prone to hacking.
Once biometric authentication becomes a norm, users can simply scan their fingerprints or iris scan to authenticate their account, and start using the services.
As per FIDO and W3C, the new biometric system for identifications and authentications will enhance the security of Internet users. Besides, every authentication shall be unique, and no data would be stored anywhere, on any server.
WebAuthn and CTAP specifications are now available to all developers, who can now develop interesting apps and services, based on this new protocol.
Will biometric logins change the Internet forever? Do share your opinions by commenting right here!