Introduction to WebAuthn and Passkeys for Secure Web Authentication

Passwords are no longer enough to secure modern web applications against sophisticated phishing and credential stuffing attacks. Transitioning to passwordless authentication using industry-standard protocols is the key to protecting user data and offering a seamless login experience. This text-only course guides you through the core concepts of Web Authentication (WebAuthn) and FIDO2 standards. You will transition from understanding traditional, vulnerable login methods to designing and implementing robust, secure, and modern authentication flows using passkeys and security keys. What you'll learn: - Understand the core architecture of WebAuthn, FIDO2, and passwordless authentication standards. - Learn how public-key cryptography replaces traditional passwords to eliminate credential theft. - Configure registration and assertion flows to register new users and authenticate existing ones. - Implement passkeys and biometric authentication to streamline the user login experience. - Practice handling credentials securely using modern JavaScript APIs and backend verification. - Apply security best practices to protect your authentication endpoints from common web vulnerabilities. The course starts with foundational security definitions and the mechanics of public-key cryptography. You will then progress through written explanations, architectural breakdowns, and practical code snippets that demonstrate how to implement registration and login flows step by step. This course is designed for web developers and security enthusiasts who are new to passwordless standards. No prior experience with WebAuthn or advanced cryptography is required; a basic understanding of web development and JavaScript is helpful. Start reading today to build secure, passwordless web applications that your users can trust.