Comparing Authentication Models

Modern authentication includes a spectrum of approaches: passwords, passkeys, and device-bound proofs. Understanding the differences helps developers and security architects choose the right model for their applications.

Password-Based Authentication

Password-based authentication is familiar and widely supported but remains vulnerable to reuse, phishing, and credential theft.

Passkeys

Passkeys improve security by leveraging public-key cryptography and resisting phishing attacks, but they often rely on cloud sync, which introduces additional attack surfaces and dependency on third-party infrastructure.

Device-Bound Proofs

Device-bound proofs, as implemented in Hawcx, attach authentication to the device itself. Credentials are never synced or exported, secrets remain local, and zero-knowledge proofs allow verification without revealing sensitive material. This model reduces account takeover risk, prevents replay attacks, and supports post-quantum resilience.

Choosing the Right Model

Choosing the appropriate model depends on the threat environment, user base, and long-term security and customer experience strategy. Device-bound authentication is particularly suited to modern architectures where per-device trust, hardware-backed security, and zero-knowledge proofs provide advantages over both traditional passwords and cross-device passkeys.