Web Authentication Best Practices

Secure authentication is the foundation of application security, but implementing it correctly can be challenging. This comprehensive guide explores modern authentication approaches and best practices for web applications. We'll start with the fundamentals of password security, including hashing, salting, and secure storage. Then we'll explore modern authentication mechanisms including OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, and passwordless authentication with WebAuthn. You'll learn practical implementations of multi-factor authentication, social login integration, and session management techniques. We'll also cover common authentication vulnerabilities and how to avoid them, including credential stuffing attacks, session hijacking, and cross-site request forgery. By examining real-world authentication flows and security considerations, this post will help you implement authentication systems that balance security and user experience effectively.