WebAuthn: The Future of Passwordless Authentication
This book delves into WebAuthn, a public key cryptography-based authentication system designed to replace vulnerable password systems. Starting with the shortcomings of passwords, it progressively introduces core WebAuthn concepts, including U2F, FIDO2, passkeys, and the WebAuthn API's usage. It details public key signature schemes, RP IDs, the CTAP2 protocol, attestation, and various extensions. Server-side implementation, platform APIs (iOS, Android, Windows), and public key formats are also covered. WebAuthn combines security keys and platform authenticators, utilizing random challenges and multiple security mechanisms to effectively address phishing attacks and database leaks, providing users with a more secure and reliable authentication experience.
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