They: Authenticate yourself! — You: But how?

Every time you log in to an account, you must first prove that you are who you say you are. It’s like entering a military base: no pass, no entry. But that’s what authentication is essentially about — verifying a user’s identity so that no unauthorized parties can get on the inside.

Depending on the platform, the methods used for authentication vary in complexity. Sometimes, a single password is enough to gain access. Other times, you must provide additional codes, click a link sent to you via email, or stare at your device’s camera so it can scan your face.

With so many methods of authentication available, we aim to help you navigate this landscape and understand why it’s important to authenticate and how to do so safely and conveniently. Let’s start with the “why.”

Why is user authentication important?

While we’ve already touched on the importance of authentication in the previous section, let’s delve deeper into why it’s so crucial.

Authentication serves as the gatekeeper to your online accounts and services. Its primary role is to ensure that only you — and authorized individuals — can access your financial records, personal messages, and other sensitive information.

Moreover, authentication helps prevent attempts to misuse your accounts for fraudulent transactions or nefarious activities under false identities. In other words, it ensures that you have control of your accounts and that no deceitful actions can be made in your name.

Needless to say, as a user, you are also more likely to engage with online services, share personal information, and conduct transactions when user authentication methods are in place. So, in a way, it is also a way to form and nurture trust between you, the user, and the service provider.

Types of authentication methods

Among the array of user authentication methods available today, six stand out as the most popular and crucial for cybersecurity. These include:

Token authentication

This form of authentication involves the use of a physical device, such as a USB token or smart card, to generate a one-time password or cryptographic key for accessing systems or services. The token authentication method provides an additional layer of security as the token must be in your possession.

Password authentication

Passwords are the most widely used method for user authentication, requiring individuals to provide unique combinations of characters to access their accounts or systems. Strong passwords should be complex and unique, incorporating a mix of letters, symbols, and numbers arranged randomly to thwart cybercriminals’ attempts at guessing them.

Biometric authentication

Biometric authentication utilizes unique physical or behavioral characteristics of individuals to verify their identity. This can include fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, iris scanning, or voice recognition. Biometric authentication offers a high level of security as it is difficult to replicate or fake these biological traits.

Multi-factor authentication

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) combines two or more authentication factors, such as something you know (password), something you have (token), or something you are (biometric), to verify a user’s identity. By requiring users to provide multiple identity proofs, MFA adds an extra layer of security, reducing the risk of unauthorized access — even if one factor is compromised.

A common implementation of MFA is two-factor authentication (2FA), which requires users to provide two different types of authentication factors before accessing their accounts

Certificate-based authentication

This method involves the use of digital certificates issued by a trusted authority to verify the identity of users or devices. The certificates are used in combination with public-key cryptography to authenticate users and encrypt data during transmission, ensuring secure communication between parties.

Passkey authentication

Passkeys are a new form of authentication where users are granted access without providing their password. Passkey technology combines biometric verification with cryptographic keys for a safer and easier way to log in. Each user has a unique pair of keys: a public one stored on the server and a private one on their device. When logging in, the server asks for the private key, which the device provides. If they match, you’re granted access.

Which authentication method is the safest one?

Naming just one of the secure authentication methods described above as the safest is not easy, especially since each method has its own strengths and weaknesses depending on the situation. For instance, while biometric authentication methods are highly effective, they are not immune to theft. So, if a cybercriminal gains access to someone’s fingerprint, that authentication method becomes compromised. After all, unlike a password, you cannot change your fingerprint.

So, if we were pushed to choose just one, we would say that passkeys are the safest authentication method because they help eliminate the risk of phishing, cannot be easily stolen or guessed (unlike weak passwords), and utilize strong cryptographic techniques to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of user credentials. Passkeys also avoid the pitfalls of traditional methods as they do not rely on something you need to remember, like a password, or something that can be physically stolen, like a security token.

In reality, however, the best approach is to use a combination of different methods tailored to the specific situation and required level of security. The best part is that you only need one tool to make this possible.

You don’t have to settle for just one authentication method

If you use NordPass, an advanced yet intuitive password manager designed by the team behind NordVPN, you gain immediate access to many of the best authentication methods available, allowing you to mix and match them for optimal security. How so?

First, NordPass can generate strong passwords on the spot and allows you to store your credentials safely in an encrypted vault that only you can access. It also enables you to implement multi-factor authentication for your online accounts, using the NordPass app as your authenticator to provide TOTP codes. Additionally, NordPass supports passkey technology, empowering you to effectively protect your accounts without passwords and access them instantly through methods such as biometric authentication.

With NordPass, authentication management becomes seamless and secure — get the 14-day free trial and see for yourself.

What is the NIS2 Directive for cybersecurity?

The NIS2 Directive, or Network and Information Security Directive 2, is EU-wide legislation on cybersecurity. It was introduced as a robust step forward to heighten the overall level of cybersecurity within the European Union. The NIS2 Directive came into force in 2023 with the goal to modernize the existing legal framework of the original NIS Directive that was introduced in 2016.

This update came in response to the escalated digitization and evolving threat landscape.

The NIS2 Directive expands its coverage beyond the initial realm. It extends the cybersecurity rules to new sectors and entities. It is designed to reinforce the resilience and incident response capacities of public and private entities. It achieves this by fostering Member States’ preparedness and promoting cooperation among them.

For instance, it mandates that Member States be suitably equipped. This includes a Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) and a competent national network and information systems (NIS) authority.

What are the main goals behind NIS2?

The NIS2 Directive’s primary objective is to promote robust cybersecurity across the EU. This includes safeguarding vital sectors from cyber threats and boosting trust in important services.

It does this by:

• Establishing a standardized level of cybersecurity protection measures across all EU member states.

• Clearly identifying and regulating the sectors affected by the directive.

• Expanding cyber security measures and tightening incident reporting rules.

• Improving the cooperation and coordination among member states in handling cyber threats.

The aim of NIS2 is to establish a standardized level of protection across all EU member states. It clearly identifies affected sectors and minimum security requirements and unifies reporting obligations. It also introduces enforcement measures and sanctions. These efforts aim to protect critical infrastructure and EU citizens from cyberattacks.

One major improvement of NIS2 over its predecessor NIS 1 is its specific scope. Sectors affected include manufacturing, food, courier services, space, and digital infrastructure. Medium and large organizations operating within these sectors fall under the NIS2 scope.

NIS2 distinguishes between “essential” and “important” entities. Both types must comply with the same security measures. However, “essential” entities are under proactive supervision.

Changes include strengthened security requirements, enhanced enforcement, stricter incident reporting, and improved cooperation. It has rules for risk management, cybersecurity training, crisis management, and data encryption. It aims to eliminate the flexibility that led to vulnerabilities under the original NIS.

Incident reporting now has new mandatory stricter timeframes, with an initial report required within 24 hours of a cybersecurity issue. This enables authorities to respond better to potential threats. Moreover, NIS2 fosters cooperation and communication between member states. It does this by establishing a European Cyber Crisis Liaison Organization Network. This makes network security a collective effort.

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How does the NIS2 Directive impact business?

The NIS2 Directive’s wider scope brings a broader range of businesses under its ambit. It particularly affects those providing critical infrastructure within the EU.

As such, it’s crucial for these entities to understand what the directive entails. You may need to prepare for enhanced risk management and incident reporting requirements.

One of the key areas for businesses to address under the NIS2 Directive is the security of network and information systems.

To meet the requirements of the directive, businesses are expected to establish a robust cybersecurity-risk management program. This program should include technical and organizational measures including authentication, authorization, encryption, and consistent monitoring for the security of network, information systems, and APIs.

Key steps to building a comprehensive network and information security program might include:

• Conducting a comprehensive cybersecurity risk assessment. This should help identify any risks posed to your network, information systems, and APIs.

• Implementing appropriate measures to manage identified risks. Key measures might include authentication, authorization, encryption, and consistent monitoring of your network and information systems.

• Developing robust incident reporting mechanisms. You should establish systems that can detect and report security incidents related to your network and information systems.

• Ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and standards. In addition to the NIS2 Directive, businesses should ensure they are compliant with other applicable regulations like the GDPR and other pertinent data protection laws.

• Training and awareness. Finally, companies should educate their employees, contractors, and third-party providers about network and information system security practices. This could cover secure coding practices, secure deployment practices, and incident response procedures.

By focusing on these aspects, businesses can ensure that they are prepared for the NIS2 Directive. They can adequately protect their networks and systems from potential cyber threats. In addition, they will be better positioned to demonstrate their compliance to national cybersecurity authorities, thereby enhancing trust in their services or critical infrastructure.

Which sectors are affected by NIS2?

The NIS2 Directive expands its reach beyond the original NIS Directive, encompassing a broader range of sectors.

These include essential service operators in areas such as:

• Energy

• Transport

• Banking

• Healthcare

• Digital service providers like online marketplaces, social networking platforms, and search engines

• Research

• ICT-Service management

• Space

• Entities providing domain name registration services

Businesses in these sectors must adhere to the regulations and requirements set forth by the NIS2 Directive.

When does NIS2 come into force?

The Member States have been given a window of 21 months until October 17, 2024, to transpose the measures outlined in the NIS2 Directive into national law.

The implication is clear: Businesses must prepare and adapt to the new network and information security landscape.

New Cybersecurity Directives – the CER Directive

Beyond the NIS2 Directive, another noteworthy legislation is the European Directive for Critical Entities Resilience (CER). The main difference between NIS2 and CER is that NIS2 is focused on cybersecurity, and CER is focused on physical security from natural disasters, floods, fires, etc.

The CER Directive replaces the European Critical Infrastructure Directive of 2008. It introduces stronger rules to enhance critical infrastructure against threats, including natural hazards, terrorist attacks, insider threats, and sabotage.

The CER Directive entered into force on January 16, 2023. Member States have until October 17, 2024, to transpose the requirements of the CER Directive into national law. By this date, each Member State is required to adopt and publish the measures necessary to comply with the directive. They must apply those measures from October 18, 2024.

Under the CER Directive, Member States must develop a strategy for enhancing the resilience of critical entities by January 17, 2026. This strategy aims to strengthen the ability of critical entities to prepare for, cope with, protect against, respond to, and recover from incidents that could disrupt the provision of essential services.

The CER Directive covers eleven sectors: energy, transport, banking, financial market infrastructures, health, drinking water, wastewater, digital infrastructure, public administration, space, and food. Member States are required to adopt a national strategy and conduct regular risk assessments.

The bottom line

The NIS2 Directive is poised to become a vital framework for cybersecurity in the EU. Businesses that fall under its scope must install rigorous technical, operational and organizational measures.

The deadline for national adoption of the directive is looming. Businesses must begin preparing to meet the NIS2 requirements.

In the context of the need for compliance with NIS2 regulations, NordPass offers valuable support as a password manager. Its features are designed to enhance your organization’s password security.

One key feature is the encrypted password vault. This securely stores all work-related passwords and information using the secure XChaCha20 encryption. NordPass’s zero-knowledge architecture ensures only authorized users can access the data.

NordPass also provides a password generator. It allows you to easily create strong and unique passwords that are resistant to guessing or brute-force attacks. The password health feature helps you assess the strength and security of your passwords. Identify any weaknesses or instances of password reuse that may put your accounts at risk.

Additionally, NordPass includes a data breach scanner. Automatically detect if any of your company’s domains or emails have been compromised in data breaches. This enables you to take immediate action to mitigate potential risks and protect your accounts. The password policy feature allows you to establish a robust password policy at the administrative level.

The activity log feature of NordPass provides transparency and accountability. This helps you maintain control over your company’s logins. Multi-factor authentication adds a layer of security, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

These features help businesses enhance their password security and compliance with NIS2 regulations. This helps contribute to a more secure and resilient digital environment.

Recognizing the dark web threat

The dark web remains one of the most mysterious parts of the internet. You may have heard of it and have a general idea of what it is, but you might be surprised by its size and the extent of its illegal activities. Dark web markets, for instance, are vast virtual spaces where hackers, cybercriminals, and shady characters trade all sorts of illegally obtained digital items. These include driver’s licenses, passports, ID cards, credit card details, bank statements…. and even phone numbers.

Right now you might be wondering — why would anyone try to sell my phone number on the dark web? The answer is pretty simple: to use it for illegal activities such as scam calls, identity theft, or fraud, so that it ultimately leads to making illegal profits.

The problem is that most people don’t even know their phone numbers and other personal information is for sale on the dark web. So, as Jeff Daniels’ character said in the pilot episode of “Newsroom”: “The first step to solving a problem is recognizing there is one.” Therefore, every online user should check if their data — including phone numbers — is on the dark web, and here’s how you can do it.

How to find out if your phone number is on the dark web

Some people think checking if their personal information, like their phone number, is on the dark web is complicated and requires finding a way to get inside the dark web. In reality, however, it’s quite easy — provided you have the right tools.

Today, many breach monitoring platforms and dark web scan services can check if your data is for sale on the dark web. However, not all of them can check for phone number leaks. Therefore, it’s important to choose a data breach scanner or monitoring system that includes phone number checks along with credential and email breaches.

With the right tool, finding out if your phone number is on the dark web is pretty straightforward. You simply enter your phone number into the application, and the tool scans the dark web for matches. Then, you just need to check whether the result is positive or negative.

What can happen if your phone number ends up on the dark web?

When the results are in, and it turns out that your phone number is indeed on the dark web, you may feel a little unsettled. In that moment you need to remember that you are not the only person this has happened to. Unfortunately, phone number theft is quite common these days, affecting millions of users each year, and often, it is very difficult to prevent.

What can worry you is what cybercriminals will do with that stolen piece of information. Sadly, there is quite a lot they can do with it. If cybercriminals get a hold of your phone number via the dark web, they can use it to:

• Send scam messages, make scam calls, or even blackmail you.

• Try to take control of your mobile device.

• Steal even more information about you.

• Use the 2FA codes sent to your mobile phone to access your email or online accounts.

Can you remove your phone number from the dark web?

We’re sorry to say that, realistically, you cannot remove your stolen phone number from the dark web. Removing it from a traditional surface website would be difficult enough — with the dark web, it is almost impossible. Additionally, the dark web has no technical support you can contact about these matters, and trying to reach the perpetrators could make things worse as it may put you in the spotlight for cybercriminals.

What to do if your phone number is on the dark web

Since you cannot remove your phone number from the dark web, the question is — what actions can you take to mitigate the risks? Luckily, there are a few things you can do to prevent cybercriminals from taking advantage of your stolen phone number. These include:

Reject all suspicious calls and SMS messages

If your phone number gets compromised, you must be super vigilant about any unsolicited communications you receive. If a call or message seems suspicious, do not respond or provide any information. And if you’re worried that you will reveal your private data by mistake, remember you can always block spam numbers or use call-blocking apps to reduce the risk of falling prey to phishing attempts.

Use multi-factor authentication (but not SMS-based)

If your phone number or other sensitive data appears on the dark web, you need to take steps to secure your online accounts. Start by enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA). Use app-based authenticators or hardware tokens instead of SMS-based methods, which are more vulnerable to interception and SIM-swapping attacks.

Create strong passwords for your online accounts

If your phone number linked to your online accounts gets leaked, you need to act fast and change your account passwords immediately. Just make sure your new passwords are complex, unique, and difficult to crack. Use a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters, and avoid reusing passwords across different sites.

SIDE NOTE: You can always use our password generator to quickly create new strong passwords for your online accounts.

How to prevent your personal information from ending up on the dark web

When discussing ways to prevent data from being leaked on the dark web, we cannot emphasize enough the need to use really strong passwords for all online accounts and services. However, it’s not only about using strong passwords but also keeping them in a safe place, preferably an encrypted virtual space to which no unauthorized third parties can have access.

You can address both of these issues with a tool such as NordPass, which is an advanced yet easy-to-use password manager that allows you to generate strong passwords on the spot and then store them in an encrypted vault. It also enables you to autofill credentials quickly for fast and secure logins, as well as share sensitive data safely with the people you trust over encryption-protected channels.

Additionally, NordPass offers a feature called Data Breach Scanner that allows you to easily check if your email address and credit card details have been compromised in a breach. By providing this tool, NordPass offers a comprehensive platform for addressing the threat of the dark web on multiple fronts. So, if you’re looking to enhance your cybersecurity and, as a bonus, improve your productivity, be sure to give NordPass a try.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How can my phone number end up on the dark web?

Your phone number might end up on the dark web through data breaches from websites or companies where you’ve shared your contact details, often due to weak security or cyberattacks. Moreover, if you’ve unintentionally posted your number on social media or other public platforms, it could be gathered by data scrapers and later traded on the dark web. Once there, your phone number could be sold to spammers, scammers, or other malicious parties for various illicit purposes, like phishing or identity theft.

Should I be worried if my information is on the dark web?

While having your information leak via the dark web can be concerning, it doesn’t necessarily mean immediate harm. Thousands of data breaches occur each year, involving millions of users worldwide. However, not all of them become targets of cybercriminals. Of course, this doesn’t mean you won’t be targeted — you can be. Therefore, it’s crucial to take proactive steps to safeguard your identity and finances. This includes monitoring your accounts, changing passwords, and considering identity theft protection services.

Can changing my phone number solve the problem?

Changing your phone number can help reduce unwanted calls and spam messages from cybercriminals. However, it won’t entirely eliminate the risk since other personal information, like your email address, might also be exposed. Therefore, you must monitor your accounts for suspicious activity and take additional security measures, like using a robust password manager and enabling multi-factor authentication.

How likely is it for my information to be misused if it’s on the dark web?

If your personal information ends up on the dark web, its misuse depends on its value and how well it’s protected. Though not all data shared via the dark web is exploited, once it’s there, it can be used to make you a target of a cyber-attack. Therefore, you need to stay vigilant and implement strong security measures to help keep your information safe from the dangers of the dark web.

Is it safe to continue using my accounts and devices after such an incident?

If you experience a data breach security incident, you must take the necessary actions to secure your accounts and devices. Depending on the severity of the breach, you may need to change passwords and implement additional security measures such as multi-factor authentication. This is to say that continuing to use your accounts can be safe once you’ve implemented the right security measures and are confident that any vulnerabilities have been addressed properly.