The Evolution of Authentication: From Passwords to Zero Trust

🔐 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗝𝗪𝗧 - 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Ever wondered how websites let you stay logged in without constantly re-entering passwords? That’s where 𝗝𝗪𝗧 (𝗝𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗲𝗯 𝗧𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻) comes in - a compact, secure way to share verified information between a client and a server. A JWT looks like this: xxxxx.yyyyy.zzzzz and is split into three parts: 1️⃣ 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 - Defines the signing algorithm (like HS256 or RS256) and token type. 2️⃣ 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 - Stores the actual data or “claims” (like user ID or roles). 3️⃣ 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 - Ensures the token hasn’t been modified using a secret key. ⚙️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄: 👉 You log in → the server verifies your credentials. 👉 It then generates a signed token (JWT) and sends it to you. 👉 You store it (in localStorage or cookies). 👉 Every time you make a request, you send this token in the header - and the server validates it instantly. 💡 Why Developers Love JWT: ✅ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 – No need for server-side sessions. ✅ 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 – Digitally signed and tamper-proof. ✅ 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 – Perfect for modern APIs and mobile apps. JWT simplifies authentication - it’s fast, scalable, and built for distributed systems. ✨ Follow Ritik Jain for more posts on 𝗔𝗣𝗜𝘀, 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁! 𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵: 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨.𝘢𝘭𝘨𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳.𝘪𝘰 #JWT #Authentication #Security #BackendEngineering #APIs #SoftwareEngineering #CloudComputing

Factor $FACT Core Features #4 Anonymous Bounties: Privacy by Design What it is Factor allows users to post and claim factoring bounties without ever revealing their identity. Through wallet-based authentication and on-chain coordination, the system removes the need for usernames, logins, or third-party identity verification. Why it matters In traditional research or freelance compute environments, participants are often required to register with central platforms, risking exposure of personal or institutional identity. Factor makes it possible to interact entirely anonymously, whether you’re posting a challenge or solving one. This opens the door for participation in sensitive or competitive research where privacy is a requirement. What this means for users You can create, fund, and solve factoring jobs with complete anonymity, protected by the protocol. This capability makes Factor a powerful tool for privacy-sensitive actors, institutions, and developers working on confidential or exploratory projects. Applicable Sectors & Markets • Cybersecurity • Academic Research • Government Cryptanalysis • Privacy-Centric Applications • Distributed Compute Networks Benefits to Users 🔐 Researchers can post cryptographic challenges without revealing affiliations or intentions. ⛏️ Miners can claim and solve bounties without ever registering or disclosing identity. 📡 Government agencies can explore encryption testing and vulnerability modeling privately. 🧠 Academics can run experiments and gather results without needing institutional approvals or third-party tools. 🧑💻 Developers can build privacy-preserving apps that integrate anonymous bounty creation and solving. 🏢 Enterprises can test cryptographic systems in the open without exposing proprietary concerns or strategic focus. 🎯 Bounty creators can fund problems of interest and observe global solver performance with no friction or exposure. Places to get involved, interact and learn more: Website: https://projectfactor.io Discord: https://lnkd.in/gDxXMtDr Telegram: https://t.me/FACT0RN YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gDd5UjQ3 Linked In: https://lnkd.in/gaWckRkU Github: https://lnkd.in/g3Dzchxb Wallets: https://lnkd.in/guD3AtsC Explorer: https://lnkd.in/gG3ixgcP Buy $FACT: https://lnkd.in/g5Shd_Ef

No one on your team should have to dig through PDFs just to find a security policy. Enter Trust Center RAG Chatbot An agent that instantly answers compliance and security questions using your own trust documentation to: - Retrieve accurate answers directly from your Trust Center - Cite sources for full transparency - Handle follow-up questions with context - Work across your website, Slack, or internal tools Your team no longer has to search through endless files or ping security every time a question comes up. Turn this workflow into an AI App, so your team can use this chatbot to: 🟢 Answer security-related inquiries from employees or clients 🟢 Provide quick access to specific policies during audits 🟢 Assist compliance teams in responding to security questionnaires Clone the template, drop in your security docs, and spin up your own trust center chatbot in minutes here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gXpa2aU3 Which team in your company would use this chatbot the most?

Log-in shouldn't be complicated. We've just made Internet Identity (our sign-in tool) even better. What makes Internet Identity 2.0 different: 🔐 Familiar login options (Google) meet cutting-edge security (passkeys) ✨ No seed phrases, no browser extensions, no complex setups 👆 Biometric authentication leverages your device's native security 🔗 One identity works across all Internet Computer applications ⚡ Non-destructive upgrades from legacy systems Our Software Engineer Andri Schatz walks through the complete setup in under 6 minutes - from creating your first identity to managing multiple authentication methods. ✅ The result? Web3 authentication that feels like Web2 simplicity with blockchain-level security. This is what user experience in decentralized applications should look like. Discover Internet Identity for yourself: https://id.ai/

No-code apps speed innovation but create hidden risks. Here are four ways enterprises can secure data flows without slowing employee-driven development. https://hubs.li/Q03LcM-K0 Written by Yair Finzi of Nokod Security

Right so the BritCard proposal then. Cryptography to the rescue? 1/ I don’t instinctively like the idea of ID cards. It offends my liberal sensibilities. But ignoring the political landscape, digital IDs aren’t the privacy catastrophe they would have been in the 2000s. 2/ Back then, the model was a central database of every citizen, accessible across departments. A honeypot for abuse, leaks, and scope creep. 3/ Today’s digital ID standards are different: built on verifiable credentials. That means you hold your own digital passport/driving licence on your phone, signed by government. 4/ When you need to prove something eg the right to work, you don’t hand over your whole passport. You share just the fact needed. Sometimes even a zero-knowledge proof: “Yes, over 18” without showing date of birth. 5/ Data doesn’t sit in one giant silo. It stays with the issuing authority (passport office, DVLA, Home Office). So-called federated. Checks are done cryptographically, not by copying documents into filing cabinets all over the economy. 6/ Done right, digital ID reduces risk compared to today, where employers and landlords hoard passport scans, and mistakes in manual checks create Windrush-style injustices. 7/ Of course, the devil is in design. A “canonical event log” of every check could easily tip into surveillance. Guardrails are needed: minimal logs, tight retention, transparency reports. 8/ We need three guarantees: – Share less, prove more – No new central database – Errors are visible and appealable 9/ If those are in place, digital IDs don’t have to be a tool of control. They can be an upgrade in privacy and security 10/ The politics will always be tricky. But let’s not fight the battles of 2005. The technology has moved on.

I’ve written 2 articles on this topic already. It’s good to see other voices out there saying it’s possible to do digital ID without compromising on privacy. But we need more awareness of this. If not, there won’t be the public pressure needed to make sure the systems are actually built in a privacy-preserving way.

Ever feel like new apps are launched without enough oversight? This video introduces the idea of integrating human intervention into the development process. It's not about distrusting the system, but ensuring vigilance, especially when dealing with uncharted territory. Think of it as a crucial layer of security, like double-checking your work—because sometimes, algorithms need a human touch. Curious about your thoughts on balancing automation with human oversight? Watch the full #CRMKonvo, like share and subscribe https://lnkd.in/gWrDjEdR? #innovation #technology #humanintervention

As agents gain traction, security and authentication for connected tools are becoming a core design topic. From recent projects and conversations, I’ve found it helpful to think in two modes — 🧍♂️ User-level and 🏢 Service-level authentication. 🧍♂️ User-level auth (OAuth 2.0) lets the agent act as a specific user — perfect when accessing personal data like Gmail, Drive, or Calendar. Each user grants consent, and the agent operates under their identity. Within your tool, you’d typically trigger an OAuth flow to obtain access tokens and connect to the underlying service. (👉 #ADK abstracts much of this complexity, making it easier to implement OAuth flow. https://lnkd.in/gejZCzuz) 🏢 Service-level auth (e.g., API key / token shared across users) instead lets the agent act as the system. It’s what you use when the data source is licensed or system-owned — for example, an analytics agent calling a 3rd-party dataset to provide insights to all users. Framing authentication this way — by who the agent is acting as — makes it easier to design secure and scalable integrations from day one.

“Just build the login flow yourself.” That’s how most side projects start 😅 But here’s the reality: Auth is not a checkbox feature. It’s a minefield. Passwords, tokens, sessions, refresh flows, MFA, social logins, device trust, brute force protection… Get one piece wrong and suddenly your entire app is vulnerable. This is why “custom auth” is one of the worst engineering decisions you can make. It feels faster, but you’re actually creating technical debt from day one. Better Auth flips this. Instead of babysitting security edge cases, you get a production-ready system out of the box—tested, audited, and hardened. That means more time shipping features, and less time reinventing the lock on your own front door. So the real question is: Are you building a product? Or building a custom auth system no one asked for? What’s your take—custom auth or Better Auth? Comment below 👇 and share this if you’ve been burned by “custom auth” 🔄