DevConf.IN 2025

Cryptography to Passkeys: A word without passwords
2025-02-28 , Shivneri Room | Chanakya Building / School of Business (capacity 200)

Passwords have existed since the 1960s, when Fernando Corbato invented them for the Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS). As the first mode of authentication, it has been instrumental in protecting access rights to digital services for decades. However, a sharp rise in cyberattacks and financial frauds has been seen in the twenty-first century, especially in developing countries like those in south and southeast Asia. These utilize social engineering and phishing to make a legitimate user give up his credentials. In the past few years, the rise of hardware-backed cryptography and cryptographic authentication technology has risen and is now being adopted as a strong alternative mode of authentication. The efforts of the FIDO Alliance has made Passkeys a strong authentication form and is now being adopted to various web services, including banking services to have phishing resistant authentication and fight these cyberattacks.


What level of experience should the audience have to best understand your session?

Beginner - no experience needed

Active researcher in the field of cybersecurity and have developed multiple products and services with strong authentication in mind.