When you run a website—whether it’s an online store, a financial platform, or even a community forum—controlling who gets in and how they log in is one of your most important security decisions. The right approach can mean the difference between protecting your users’ data and leaving the door open to cybercriminals.
Let’s walk through the most common access methods, their strengths, and their weaknesses.
1. Username and Password
The classic. For decades, usernames and passwords have been the default way of logging in. They’re simple, cheap, and familiar.
🔒 Pros:
- Easy to implement.
- Users know how it works.
⚠️ Cons:
- Weak or reused passwords are easily hacked.
- Susceptible to phishing, credential stuffing, and brute-force attacks.
- Users often forget them, leading to friction and support costs.
2. SMS or Email Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Adding a second step after the password, like a code sent by SMS or email, significantly increases security.
🔒 Pros:
- Adds an extra barrier against stolen passwords.
- Familiar to most users.
⚠️ Cons:
- SMS can be intercepted (SIM-swapping attacks).
- Email inboxes may already be compromised.
- Users can find it slow or frustrating.
3. Smart App Authenticators (TOTP)
Apps like Google Authenticator, Authy, or Microsoft Authenticator generate a time-based one-time passcode (TOTP).
🔒 Pros:
- Stronger than SMS/email.
- Works offline once set up.
⚠️ Cons:
- Users must install and manage a separate app.
- Codes expire quickly, which can frustrate users.
- Still adds friction to the login process.
4. Passkeys
A newer standard backed by Apple, Google, and Microsoft, passkeys use public-key cryptography tied to your device. Instead of a password, you log in using your phone or computer’s biometric (fingerprint, face ID, etc.).
🔒 Pros:
- Very secure and phishing-resistant.
- Seamless when everything works.
- No passwords to remember.
⚠️ Cons:
- Ecosystem still developing; not all sites and browsers support them consistently.
- Users can get confused when switching devices.
- Managing recovery (lost phone, new laptop) can be tricky.
🚧 The Limitations of Passkeys in the Real World
On paper, passkeys are the future. But in practice, they come with some serious friction points:
- Multiple Devices – Passkeys are usually tied to one ecosystem (Apple, Google, Microsoft). If you don’t stay within it, syncing across devices isn’t seamless.
- Lost or Broken Devices – If your phone dies or you forget to back up, your passkeys may vanish with it. Recovery is difficult and often means extra support calls.
- Shared or Work Devices – Passkeys assume one-person-one-device. On shared computers, family logins, or workplace setups, they’re awkward at best, unworkable at worst.
- App vs Browser – A passkey saved in Safari may not automatically work in your bank’s app. Users get confused, and developers are forced to maintain multiple authentication paths.
These issues show why passkeys, while promising, aren’t yet the perfect solution for businesses or users who live across devices, platforms, and login contexts.
5. Authentiq8 Me
Authentiq8 Me takes the best of these approaches and goes further: a secure, app-based login system where users simply scan a QR code to log in. No typing, no codes, no friction.
🔒 Pros:
- Passwordless by design.
- Strong security with public-key cryptography.
- Works across devices without users needing to manage complex setups.
- Businesses can instantly capture verified user details (name, email, phone) with consent, simplifying onboarding.
- Supports flexible device management and detailed logging for businesses.
⚠️ Cons:
- Requires users to install the app (though setup is simple).
So, What’s the Best Approach?
- Passwords alone? Outdated.
- Passwords + SMS/Email 2FA? Better, but still vulnerable.
- Authenticator apps? Secure but clunky.
- Passkeys? Promising, but not yet practical for real-world use.
👉 The best option today is frictionless, passwordless login. And that’s exactly what Authentiq8 Me delivers: enterprise-level security with the simplicity users actually love.
If you’re building a website in 2025, don’t settle for the same old username and password experience. Instead, give your users login that’s secure, simple, and future-ready.