Reimagining Authentication with Hanko

Today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, passwords are increasingly seen as a weak link in security. Enter Hanko, a powerful, open-source authentication platform that prioritizes passwordless, passkey-based logins, and biometric verification. With its rich feature set, Hanko empowers developers to create secure, streamlined login experiences. This article will dive into the advantages and disadvantages of using passkeys, the concept of Conditional UI for autofill, the considerations of making passwords optional, and using passkeys for multi-factor authentication (MFA).

🏆 :Advantages and Disadvantages of a Passkey-Only Login

Passkeys leverage Webauth standards to authenticate users securely, eliminating the need for passwords. Instead, users can authenticate using biometrics (e.g., fingerprints or face recognition) or device-bound security keys.

Advantages of Passkeys

1 Enhanced Security: Passkeys are unique to each device and user, making them inherently more secure than passwords. Because they’re non-transferable, they minimize the risk of phishing and credential theft.

2 Improved User Experience: With passkeys, users don’t have to remember complex passwords. A simple biometric scan or device-based verification is all that’s required.

3 Reduced IT Burden: By removing passwords, support requests for forgotten passwords drop, saving time and resources.

Disadvantages of Passkeys

1 Device Dependency: Since passkeys are often stored locally, losing access to the original device may make it challenging for users to log in from a new device without a recovery mechanism.

2 Compatibility Limitations: Some users may still have devices that aren’t compatible with WebAuth, limiting their ability to use passkey-only authentication.

Hanko provides solutions to these challenges, enabling fallback authentication methods and ensuring compatibility with WebAuth standards to make passkeys as accessible and effective as possible.

🏆 :Passkey Autofill with Conditional UI: Streamlining Authentication

Conditional UI is a feature that enables passkey autofill prompts, appearing only when the context calls for them. This feature offers users a smoother login experience by showing the passkey prompt only when necessary.

How Conditional UI Works in Passkey Autofill

Conditional UI leverages context to trigger autofill only when users have a passkey available, eliminating unnecessary distractions and reducing login friction. Here’s how you can implement it in a Hanko-based application:

1: Set Up Hanko for Conditional UI : Start by configuring Hanko to enable Conditional UI for your login flow.

2: Implement Conditional Autofill Prompt:

const hanko = new Hanko('<YOUR_HANKO_API_URL>');

async function authenticate() {
    try {
        const user = await hanko.auth.webauthn.signIn({ conditionalUI: true });
        console.log("Authenticated user:", user);
        // Handle successful login (e.g., redirect to a dashboard)
    } catch (error) {
        console.error("Error during authentication:", error);
        // Handle error (e.g., show error message to user)
    }
}

3: Test Autofill Flow: Ensure the UI only prompts users with passkeys when the login form is active, enhancing the login experience and reducing unnecessary steps.

Conditional UI makes passkey-based logins feel more intuitive and seamless, aligning with Hanko’s vision for low-friction, user-friendly authentication.

🏆 :Making Passwords Optional: Key Considerations

Moving to password-optional authentication can simplify the login process and enhance security by reducing dependence on passwords. However, this approach requires certain considerations:

Why Make Passwords Optional?

Increased Security: Users are less likely to rely on weak or reused passwords.

Flexibility for Users: Offering a choice between passkey-only and traditional passwords enables a smoother transition to passwordless authentication.

👉 Important Considerations

Fallback and Recovery: Users may lose access to their passkey-enabled devices, so a fallback method, such as email verification, is essential.

Clear Communication: Educate users about the option to delete passwords and the benefits of passkey authentication.

User Control: Letting users delete passwords gives them control over their login experience while enhancing security.

Configuring Hanko for Password-Optional Logins: To make passwords optional with Hanko, configure your app to allow users to delete their passwords while retaining passkey-based authentication.

visit docs for setup:

🏆: Passkeys as a Password Replacement vs. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Passkeys can function as both a password replacement or an additional layer in MFA. Understanding the difference between these use cases can help determine which approach is best suited for different security needs.

Using Passkeys as a Password Replacement

Simplified Login: Passkeys replace the need for passwords entirely, offering a faster, easier login experience.

Single-Factor Security: Passkeys alone may be sufficient for most applications, especially when paired with biometrics.
Using Passkeys for MFA

Enhanced Security: Adding passkeys as a second factor (in addition to a password) offers an extra layer of security, which is ideal for sensitive applications.

Reduced Phishing Risks: Since users authenticate with something they have (the device) and something they are (biometric), MFA with passkeys becomes highly secure.

Configuring Hanko for MFA with Passkeys: With Hanko, you can configure passkeys to act as either the primary or secondary authentication factor. Here’s an example setup for MFA:

async function authenticate() {
   try {
       const user = await hanko.auth.webauthn.signInWithMFA();
       console.log("User authenticated with MFA:", user);
       // Redirect or handle login success
   } catch (error) {
       console.error("Error in MFA authentication:", error);
       // Handle error (e.g., show error message to user)
   }
}

This setup ensures that only authorized users with access to both a password and a passkey can log in, providing an additional layer of security for applications with high-security requirements.

Conclusion: The Hanko Advantage

Hanko empowers developers to explore modern authentication strategies—passkey-only logins, Conditional UI, password-optional setups, and MFA with passkeys—using a versatile, open-source platform. By leveraging Hanko’s intuitive SDK and flexible configurations, you can design authentication flows that prioritize security, convenience, and user experience.

As the industry moves toward a passwordless future, Hanko’s support for passkeys and other cutting-edge security features positions it as a powerful ally in creating safe, user-friendly applications. Embrace the future of authentication with Hanko, and start building secure, password-free experiences today!

Thank you for reading 🙏

best regards
Adil Kadivala (k-adi)