Futurists tell us there will be a day when you won’t have to use the password, but they are not quite sure how this is going to be possible. Of course, for now, passwords are necessary. You have to re-use them again and again. But there is always the chance that hackers might steal the password, even after the best security. Many people have multiple passwords, and remembering them all is a difficult task. The process of logging back if you have forgotten the password is clunky.
Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) wants to change all this. Eventually, they want to do away with passwords altogether.
A New Way Instead of the Mundane Password
Facebook have launched the beta version of “Delegated Account Recovery” at the F8 developer conference this week. This will be the backup security key if you have forgotten your password on different, non-Facebook services.
For instance, if you cannot remember the password on a website or app, it will use Facebook instead to verify you. The verification will be done through exercises, such as recognizing photos of friends to log you back.
Delegated Account Recovery is More Secure
Brad Hill, the Security Engineer of Facebook said, “We want to make sure we can let you use identifying information to keep yourself secure, but not have to trade your privacy. Right now you tell your mother’s maiden name to 500 different places and if any one of them gets hacked, then you’re vulnerable everywhere”.
Facebook is saying this is a more secure method. Text messages are unencrypted. Email accounts can be hacked. The Delegated Account Recovery system of Facebook will work even if you change your email address or phone number. This is only in the beta stage at this time, so it will surely improve with time.
Many people are skeptical about trusting Facebook with other accounts. They know everything about you. Facebook will use your information to show you advertisements. The bad guys can log in to your other accounts if they manage to hack your Facebook account. They too will know everything about you. It can be scary.
However, Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) insists there are safeguards to recognize fraudulent activity. They are going to alert you if something is amiss. Brad Hill assures that security on Facebook will get even better in the future. Further, Facebook is open-sourcing this technology so eventually, any company can use it. It will work even if don’t trust Facebook with your identity, but another organization, which will implement the tool.
