When was the last time you struggled to remember a password? The answer is perhaps one too many times. In today’s digital age, our data consumption is skyrocketing, bringing with it increased risks. Traditional password-based authentication systems are falling short against sophisticated cyber threats. That’s why the move to passwordless authentication options like OID4VP and FIDO2 is critical for both businesses and users.

Let’s dive into understanding how these new authentication solutions tackle the vulnerabilities of traditional password systems and provide a comparison between them.

Passwordless Authentication: A Paradigm Shift with OID4VP and FIDO2

The inconvenience and risks associated with passwords, including phishing attacks and stolen credentials, are well-known. Hence, passwordless authentication emerges as a relief for consumers, who now do not have to bother with remembering and storing hundreds of account credentials. This approach enables users to verify their identity seamlessly and securely through biometric factors or one-time codes, eliminating the reliance on traditional passwords. One important protocol in this domain is OpenID for Verifiable Presentations (OID4VP), which offers a standardised method for secure verification, thereby reducing the risks.

OpenID for Verifiable Presentations (OID4VP) functions by extending the OpenID Connect protocol, supporting the presentation of claims through Verifiable Credentials. This extension enables the secure and verifiable presentation of identity data within the protocol flow.

With OID4VP, users can present their digital proofs of identity, attributes, or qualifications to verifiers, using a wallet. OID4VP uses Verifiable Presentations (VPs) which are cryptographic confirmations of digital identity based on well-known standards for authentication and authorisation on the web, such as OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect.

Apart from OID4VP, FIDO2 (Fast Identity Online) also presents developers with an alternative for securing users’ digital interactions.

FIDO2 is a collaborative initiative by the FIDO Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) aimed at…