When setting up a new account, you will often need to choose a security question while creating a password. Answering security-based questions on the user’s personal information while logging into a system or app is known as Knowledge-Based Authentication. Currently, KBA’s application is prevalent in many areas where people freely share similar information on various social media platforms. This habit only tends to reduce its security value over time.
Passwords are vulnerable; hence, they may get stolen, shared, or even cracked by hackers. A recent study conducted in 2020 showed that approximately fifteen billion stolen password credentials were made available on the dark web, which mainly includes different password and username combinations. Since KBA and the user’s password are easily obtainable by hackers, big organizations relying on these vulnerable authentication techniques must take better security measures for protection.
This post will serve as an ultimate guide to knowledge-based authentication to give you a better understanding of how it works.
A Brief Overview of Knowledge-Based Authentication
Knowledge-based authentication (KBA) is a security solution that allows correct authorization for online or digital operations by identifying end users by having them respond to predetermined security questions. Knowledge-based authentication websites are becoming common on the Internet and across many network configurations. Users must frequently respond to these questions to access a site’s private, password-protected portions.
Types of Knowledge-Based Authentication
Here are the two types of KBA:
- Static KBA
Static knowledge-based authentication, one of the most popular security techniques, is often referred to as “shared secret questions” or “shared secrets.” When establishing an account, the user selects the static KBA question. As a result, the query and the response are saved for use later when identity verification is necessary.
However, the biggest issue with this kind of KBA authentication is that it’s pretty likely that the solutions may be obtained by anybody, especially with so much private information readily accessible online and on social media.
- Dynamic KBA
Dynamic KBA doesn’t need the user to create a security question and supply the answer when creating an account, unlike static KBA, to validate a person’s identification.
This implies that the information used to produce the questions is linked to an ID number and is often not found in a person’s wallet. This kind of authentication is “out-of-wallet questions” for this reason.
When it comes to dynamic KBA, the questions are typically more detailed and provide options. Credit report information, marketing databases, and market analysis are used to get the answers to these queries. Even though the likelihood of this information becoming publicly available is decreasing, data leakage incidents might lead to its acquisition.
The advanced dynamic KBA is a third categorization that is available. The primary distinction is that private information kept behind a firewall is used to produce the security questions in this instance. Because of this, this kind of KBA authentication is linked to a greater degree of security.
Adding Multiple Security Layers to KBA
Devices that provide simple multi-factor authentication can enhance KBA security while standardizing authentic identification. Industry-leading tools that can assist in making knowledge-based logins more secure include the ones listed below:
- Single Factor Authentication – Adding security and dependability is single-factor authentication (SSO), which uses a code or pin or another identification like a biometric indication (fingerprints, eye scans, or face recognition). Hackers may still imitate biometric identification to access devices, but the effort becomes more complicated when employed by KBA and SSO.
- Multi-factor Authentication – Two-factor or three-factor authentication can support KBA. Hacking becomes more difficult when users must log in with several usernames and passwords and must verify their identities using knowledge-based data. You may configure a further layer of protection, added by devices to receive push notifications, such as SMS token requests for a second login and password. Strong multi-factor systems may even employ three logins and passwords to provide the highest level of data security.
- USB Keys – Hackers cannot physically access data on your smartphone, laptop, or other device using USB keys. It is possible to configure a USB thumb drive to need device access, and because it is a physical object, it is more difficult to unlock than an SSO password or KBA data point. Additionally, built-in schedulers can restrict how frequently a USB key can access data from a device per day. You can use KBA and password requirements to regain access to data if a lost, corrupted, or destroyed USB key is waiting for another physical key to be secured.
- Security Monitoring – Any reliable KBA system will enable you to target potential data hacking or anomalous login behavior by continuously monitoring data access attempts. To further reduce security threats, make sure you also maintain pure credentials.
Whichever of these KBA modifications you choose to utilize, you’ll be better able to recognize when a hacker or identity thief is posing as someone you genuinely want to provide access to your data. Then, you may configure different security protocols to request an additional form of consumer authentication.
The Bottom Line
Knowledge-based authentication is cumbersome, dangerous, and prone to intrusions. Dynamic KBA questions are now replaced by deep learning and artificial intelligence services, which are safer and considerably faster. They may quickly interface with websites and mobile applications thanks to API. Solutions like facial verification and liveness testing will spread in the future.
Even though knowledge-based authentication is risky, KBA questions can have a benefit. Companies with sensitive user data can create their own dynamic KBA questions. Combining KBA questions with behavior analysis makes it possible to identify odd consumer behavior patterns while the client fills out the form.