International Journal of Science, Engineering and TechnologyAuthors: Durojaye Emmanuel Olatunji, Akinola Daniel Adeoye, Ajayi Titus Ileriayo, Adebayo Suliat Precious, Adewale Joseph Adebiyi
Abstract: Software security has become increasingly important as organizations and individuals continue to depend on digital systems for communication, financial transactions, healthcare, education, and other critical services. One of the primary mechanisms used to protect these systems from unauthorized access is user authentication. Traditional password-based authentication remains the most widely adopted authentication method because of its simplicity and low implementation cost. However, the growing sophistication of cyberattacks, including phishing, brute-force attacks, credential stuffing, and password reuse, has exposed significant weaknesses in password-only authentication systems, prompting the development of more advanced techniques such as multi-factor authentication and biometric authentication. [1,2] This study assesses password authentication techniques for enhancing software security through a comparative analysis of password-based authentication, multi-factor authentication, and biometric authentication. A qualitative comparative research design was adopted using secondary data obtained from textbooks, peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, and international standards, with techniques evaluated on security effectiveness, usability, implementation cost, reliability, and resistance to cyberattacks. [3,5] Findings indicate that although password-based authentication remains essential because of its widespread acceptance, combining it with additional authentication factors significantly improves software security and reduces the risk of unauthorized access. The study concludes that organizations should adopt multi-layered authentication mechanisms to achieve stronger protection for modern software applications.
