Passwords have been ubiquitous to online activity since the invention of the internet, but experts told Newsweek that may not be true for much longer.
Developments in artificial intelligence and new authentication systems mean that traditional passwords are rapidly being upgraded or replaced with biometric security options—something that can’t be replicated.
Why It Matters
Most people’s password etiquette falls short of where security experts say it should be. In the U.S., the most common password length is only eight to 10 characters, and a significant portion contain only lowercase letters and digits, making passwords vulnerable to brute-force attacks.
Because of this, and the instant access they grant, passwords are the most desirable piece of information a hacker or a fraudster can obtain, and the bulk of scamming techniques are designed to get them, giving criminals access to devices, computer networks, or even bank accounts.
The Future of Passwords
For many users, entering passwords manually is already a thing of the past, with top-level password managers proving a supposedly safe way to store and enter passwords automatically.
However, Subho Halder, the co-founder and CEO of security firm Appknox told Newsweek that password managers have major problems of their own, and that Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) was one of the most reliable ways to boost the strength of any password-based security system.
“Password managers are becoming more advanced but also more exposed,” Halder said.
“They now use zero-knowledge encryption and hardware-backed MFA, yet they remain prime targets because of what they protect. The LastPass breach showed that even encrypted vaults can become liabilities if metadata is leaked or if users don’t enable MFA.
“Users should protect password managers the same way enterprises protect crown jewels: with MFA, encryption, regular audits and a healthy dose of paranoia. A password manager is a vault, but without a hardened door, it’s still vulnerable.”
Kyle Kurdziolek, the vice president of security at data firm BigID, echoed this sentiment, telling Newsweek that password managers were reliable but still susceptible to traditional hacking methods.
“Password managers continue to get more secure overall with most now using strong encryption, adopting zero trust architecture, and additional security controls.
“But like any tool, they’re only as secure as the people and systems around them. We see breaches happen when master passwords are reused or stolen through phishing, or when vulnerabilities in the software go unpatched.
“The best way to protect a password manager is to use strong, unique master passwords, enable multi-factor authentication, and keep the software up to date. But it doesn’t stop there. Even with a good password manager, credentials and secrets often get duplicated and hidden across code, cloud storage, or collaboration tools.”
Biometric Security
Both experts said that biometrics, physical data like fingerprints and facial recognition that can’t be easily separated from their owner, was one of the most likely ways passwords could be phased out in the near future.
“We are at an inflection point, not in terms of technology but in trust and consistency,” Halder said. “Passkeys, biometric authentication and token-based access are already here, but adoption is fragmented. A 2024 FIDO Alliance report showed less than 15 percent of websites currently support passkeys despite growing support from Apple and Google.
“At Appknox, we consistently find that while apps may offer ‘passwordless’ logins like OTPs or biometrics, they often implement them insecurely, exposing users to interception, reuse or replay attacks.
“So, we are not just replacing passwords, we are rebuilding the idea of access from the ground up. Until secure, passwordless authentication becomes interoperable and foolproof across platforms, passwords will persist as a legacy fallback.”
Kurdziolek agreed with the focus on biometrics, but said that the industry needed to take special care that the adoption process did not include any gaps or flaws in the technology.
“There’s real momentum behind technologies that could replace traditional passwords, like biometrics, MFA, and hardware security keys but widespread adoption is still in progress. While there is momentum behind organizations taking steps toward a passwordless future, for many, it’s still years away.
“Replacing passwords is just part of the solution. Secrets, credentials, and keys often remain hidden across cloud storage, code repositories, and everyday tools. Organizations need to take control of their sensitive data wherever they live so even as they move toward passwordless security, they can reduce risk and close gaps that attackers could exploit.”
Artificially Intelligent Passwords
As with any space in tech right now, the biggest question is how AI will impact the future.
When it comes to passwords, the consensus is that AI is a double-edged sword; it provides users greater tools and detection methods for security purposes, but it gives criminals and hackers those same tools as well.
“It is helping both users and attackers, but right now, attackers are scaling faster,” Halder told Newsweek.
“AI isn’t just speeding up brute-force attacks; it’s decoding password patterns, auto-generating phishing content and simulating human behavior more convincingly than ever.
“On the flip side, AI is helping defenders, too — from spotting credential stuffing attacks in real time to alerting users when their passwords are weak or reused. But we can’t let AI be a Band-Aid.
“The real leap will come when we stop relying on passwords altogether and move toward continuous, contextual authentication powered by behavior, biometrics and device identity, not just secrets.”
Kurdziolek was similarly cautious of AI, and said that criminals are using it to crack passwords faster and faster.
“AI is reshaping the security landscape for passwords on both sides of the equation. For everyday users and defenders, AI helps detect suspicious logins, flag credential stuffing attempts faster, and power smarter passwordless authentication methods like biometrics.
“But attackers are also using AI to crack passwords faster through automated brute-force attacks and to craft more convincing phishing schemes that steal credentials in the first place.
“Ultimately, AI makes strong password hygiene and secrets protection even more critical. Replacing or supplementing passwords with multi-factor or passwordless authentication is a smart step but it’s equally important to uncover hidden credentials and secrets that attackers could exploit.”
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