The hottest Authentication Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

FIDO U2F: công nghệ xác minh hai bước chống phishing

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 0 implied HN points • 30 Aug 16
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. FIDO U2F is a two-step verification technology that is safer and easier to use compared to other similar technologies like SMS OTP or RSA SecurID.
  2. The advantages of FIDO U2F include safety, ease of use, open standards, and reasonable pricing.
  3. U2F technology eliminates the need for users to manually check website addresses, providing a technical solution to phishing attacks.

matrix card - super cheap yet secure T-FA solution

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 0 implied HN points • 01 Apr 08
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. Two-factor authentication (T-FA) utilizes two different methods for higher security. Commonly, it involves something a person knows and something they have or are.
  2. Using a matrix card as the second authentication factor is a cost-effective solution compared to other options like RSA SecurID, making it easy to implement and inexpensive for service providers and customers.
  3. While T-FA with a matrix card is helpful, it does not fully protect against certain attacks like man-in-the-middle phishing. Authentication of transactions and vigilance for abnormal behavior are crucial for enhanced security.

Three best practice approaches to authentication

realkinetic • 0 implied HN points • 13 Dec 22
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. Service-level authentication puts the responsibility of authentication on individual services, allowing better control over which endpoints are authenticated and which aren't.
  2. API-gateway authentication centralizes authentication at a gateway, simplifying downstream services' implementation but requires careful configuration to prevent vulnerabilities.
  3. Service-mesh authentication uses sidecar proxies to provide authentication, set up transparently for services, enhancing security but adding complexity and performance overhead.

API Authentication with GCP Identity-Aware Proxy

realkinetic • 0 implied HN points • 25 Jan 19
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy (Cloud IAP) enables authentication and authorization for applications in Google Cloud Platform (GCP) by requiring users to login with their Google account and have appropriate access roles.
  2. Configuring Identity-Aware Proxy involves associating it with an App Engine application or HTTPS Load Balancer and adding service accounts for programmatic authentication.
  3. Authenticating API consumers with Cloud IAP involves generating a JWT signed with service account credentials, exchanging it for a Google-signed OIDC token, and making authenticated requests by setting the bearer token in the Authorization header.

Identity, authentication, and authorisation from the ground up

Tranquil Thoughts • 0 implied HN points • 28 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. Authentication methods can be divided into three categories: knowledge-based (like passwords), ownership-based (like email or phone verification), and identity-based (like biometric data). Each has its pros and cons.
  2. Passwords are often a weak way to authenticate because people forget them or use easily guessable ones. This can lead to security risks and poor user experience.
  3. New techniques like WebAuthn allow users to log in without passwords, using secure methods like biometrics or hardware keys. This reduces the chances of phishing and makes the process smoother.
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Deliverable authentication as a useful pattern

ciamweekly • 0 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. Some accounts don't need strong security, so using email or phone for login is enough. It's easy for users who only want to use something once or rarely.
  2. Many people prefer quick login methods, like magic links or one-time codes, instead of complicated passwords. This reduces hassle and makes using apps simpler.
  3. Removing barriers to access can benefit both users and companies. When login is easier, users are more likely to engage with the app.

An Interview With Heather Flanagan

ciamweekly • 0 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. CIAM helps create smooth and secure customer experiences online. It reduces password use and allows for modern authentication methods like passkeys and multi-factor authentication.
  2. A big challenge in CIAM is balancing security with user experience. Organizations often struggle to keep systems safe while also making them easy for users to navigate.
  3. The future of CIAM is promising with new technologies like biometrics and better standards. These advancements could lead to safer, more personalized interactions for customers.

Why Look Around?

ciamweekly • 0 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. Cost issues can lead teams to look for new CIAM solutions, especially if a vendor raises prices or causes delays in other features.
  2. Availability problems with a vendor, like outages, can make companies reconsider their choice for CIAM, especially after multiple incidents.
  3. Sometimes teams seek new features or capabilities that their current CIAM solution doesn't offer, prompting a search for alternatives.

Agentic Authentication and OAuth

ciamweekly • 0 implied HN points • 17 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. AI agents will need better ways to access user data, and OAuth could provide a way to do that with its scope system. It helps keep user data secure and structured.
  2. The landscape for AI agents is much more fragmented than social platforms. Many smaller companies don't have the systems in place for OAuth, which makes it harder for widespread adoption.
  3. There might be a mix of solutions where big companies lead with better APIs for agents, while smaller ones could use more casual methods to let agents access information, making it tricky for users to manage their data rights.

Blue Sky Authentication/Identity Starter Pack

ciamweekly • 0 implied HN points • 09 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. Bluesky is a social platform that feels like an older version of Twitter, great for sharing knowledge and having discussions. It limits posts to 300 characters but allows threading for more detailed conversations.
  2. There is a special feature called 'starter packs' that lets users quickly follow groups of experts within a specific topic, like authentication and identity, with just one click.
  3. Following experts on Bluesky can provide valuable insights, like checklists for deploying passkeys or discussions on issues with SMS multi-factor authentication.

Another Reason To Avoid SMS MFA

ciamweekly • 0 implied HN points • 02 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. SMS for multi-factor authentication can be very unreliable, especially for people in areas with poor cellular service. This can create a stressful situation just to access an account.
  2. If you rely solely on SMS for verification, there might be long and complicated steps to regain access when things go wrong.
  3. There are better security options than SMS, so it's worth considering alternatives that provide more reliable protection.

CIAM Expansion Dimensions

ciamweekly • 0 implied HN points • 14 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. CIAM systems help with user logins and account management. They make it easier for people to register and use applications securely.
  2. Providing affordable and secure options for user management is very important. This is a valuable feature that many applications need.
  3. Good CIAM solutions can benefit even single applications. They simplify how users interact with the app while keeping their information safe.

CIAM-adjacent Components

ciamweekly • 0 implied HN points • 11 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. CIAM systems can be improved by including components like consent management and identity proofing. These help manage user identity and permissions better.
  2. Other useful features include messaging systems and fraud prevention tools, which keep users informed and secure. They play an important role in the overall user experience.
  3. Some components work before a user logs in, while others work after authentication. They all help make the CIAM system more effective.

Federated Credential Management (FedCM)

ciamweekly • 0 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. FedCM lets users log into websites easily using identities from sources like Google. This helps simplify the login process.
  2. One big benefit of FedCM is that it enhances user privacy by reducing ways that websites can track people online.
  3. FedCM is still being developed and needs support from browsers, identity providers, and websites to work fully. Major companies like Google and Shopify are getting involved.

An AI Identity White Paper

ciamweekly • 0 implied HN points • 28 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. AI identity management is becoming more important as technology advances. It's crucial to establish standards for how we manage identities in this space.
  2. A white paper titled 'Authentic AI' discusses ways to incorporate authentication and authorization for AI agents. This could lead to better security and trust in AI systems.
  3. Engaging in discussions with community groups like OpenID can foster innovation in AI identity management. Collaboration is key to addressing challenges in this area.

What is Progressive Registration?

ciamweekly • 0 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. Ask only the minimum information up front so people can get into your app quickly and with less friction.
  2. Unlock useful features and then ask for specific data as needed — for example, convert an anonymous account, verify an email, collect profile details, or request payment info.
  3. Use analytics and business rules to time these asks and build a glide path that earns user trust, increases account value, and helps you tune and monetize the product.

Account Linking

ciamweekly • 0 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. Account linking is essential in CIAM to unify customer identities across multiple federated login methods so you avoid duplicate records, fragmented experiences, and weaker security.
  2. Linking is technically hard because provider IDs differ and emails can change over time. Store provider-specific IDs and use email verification or user-managed merging to resolve identities safely.
  3. Don’t always link every account — allow intentional identity fragmentation when users want separate data, and reduce friction by surfacing the user’s preferred login method on return.

Passwords Aren't Going Anywhere

ciamweekly • 0 implied HN points • 01 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. Passwords are likely to remain an available way to access online accounts even as new methods like passkeys emerge.
  2. They have deep historical roots—from ancient secret phrases to early multi-user computer systems—showing they’ve been relied on for a long time.
  3. Passwords have practical advantages because they don’t depend on networks, third-party services, or specific devices, so they still work during outages or poor connectivity.

An Interview With Jen Schreiber

ciamweekly • 0 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. CIAM should bridge the gap between security best practices and everyday users by making the secure choice the easiest default, using things like transparent MFA, just-in-time access, and session expiry to guide safe behavior.
  2. Modern CIAM is more complex and distributed across many systems and third parties, which widens the attack surface and makes rapid detection and response a core challenge.
  3. The future of CIAM is continuous, real-time access evaluation and automated response, with standards like the Shared Signals Framework enabling fast event sharing so access can be adjusted or revoked instantly.

2025 Podcast Roundup

ciamweekly • 0 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. There’s no single perfect authentication solution—organizations must support multiple methods like passwords, passkeys, magic links, OTPs, and MFA to meet different user needs. Passkeys offer big security gains but still have UX and implementation friction, while magic links and OTPs face deliverability and browser issues, and shared password managers can introduce new risks.
  2. AI agents are fast and unpredictable and become dangerous when they can access private data, read untrusted content, and communicate externally. Treat agents like users: apply least privilege, separate access for subagents and tools, and build on existing standards (like OAuth/MCP) for authentication and authorization.
  3. A good developer environment is fast and low-latency, and many teams prefer local-first setups for quicker feedback and more direct security control. Make security part of the workflow by adding useful tests and developer-friendly security tools so they get used without slowing developers down.

Account Linking, Redux

ciamweekly • 0 implied HN points • 29 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. Account linking reduces friction and boosts conversion by letting users sign in with external identity providers, but it hands control and identity ownership to those providers.
  2. For consumer apps, relying on third-party identity providers risks users losing access if the provider suspends or is breached, and a compromised federated account can expose all connected apps.
  3. For employee-facing apps, federation can make it hard to enforce extra security (like required MFA) and to revoke access instantly, because you inherit the identity provider's security posture and session management constraints.

An Interview With Brian Bell

ciamweekly • 0 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. CIAM is the backbone of trust and revenue. It must enable easy, secure logins so users don’t abandon signups and make real-time decisions about who or what can do what.
  2. Implementing CIAM is hard because it sits at the intersection of security, product, privacy, scale, and developer experience, and many vendors hide that complexity behind rigid, inflexible models. Teams need flexible, embeddable solutions that give developers control for migrations, legacy data, and rapid growth.
  3. The future is CIAM as programmable, composable core infrastructure that supports fine-grained permissions and delegation for humans and AI agents. Developers will expect identity to fit their architecture and enable invisible trust at scale.

JWT Signing And Verification Benchmarks

ciamweekly • 0 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Authentication
  1. The piece benchmarks signing and verification performance across different JWT algorithms to compare how they behave under load.
  2. The measurements use a Java JWT library (fusionauth-jwt) to get practical, implementation-level performance data.
  3. Benchmarks aren’t universal — you should run your own tests and make sure the results apply to your specific use case.