Report: At least 25% of consumers use biometrics for online security

Biometrics are beginning to move mainstream for online authentication, with at least 25% of consumers now using biometrics in some capacity, according to the FIDO Alliance’s Online Authentication Barometer report. For this research, the FIDO Alliance set out to discover the latest in consumer habits, trends, and the adoption of authentication technologies across the globe. This is the first report in its Online Authentication Barometer series that will periodically review and monitor the state of online authentication in ten countries across the globe. Future releases of the barometer will be able to compare changes in behaviors and attitudes over time.

The report found passwords still prevailed over other, more secure authentication methods, with 59% of people using them to log into a work account or computer in the last 60 days. While this is unsurprising, with passwords dominating online authentication for many years, the report did also find indicators that the tide is changing. Most notably, biometrics are gaining traction, both in perception of security and usage — 32% of consumers now believe biometrics are the most secure way to log into their online accounts, apps and devices, compared to passwords at 19%. In addition, biometrics was the second most commonly used method for login, with 28% citing it as