why do we use oauth authentication instead of basic authentication (2024)

FAQs

Why do we use oauth authentication instead of basic authentication? ›

OAuth offers that essential layer of security and control, wrapping user credentials in a layer of armor that Basic Authentication simply can't match.

Basic authentication is a standards-based authentication for HTTP clients. It is a popular authentication when protected by SSL, but should not be used on the Internet without protecting the authentication with SSL since it will expose your user's credentials, given it is an insecure protocol.

OAuth authentication offers a number of advantages for users and developers alike. It is much more secure than traditional methods, as it uses tokens instead of credentials to authenticate access. This means that user data is protected from malicious activity on the server side.

What Are the Benefits of OAuth 2? Key benefits of OAuth 2 include: User-friendly: Since it doesn't require users to share their credentials with third party applications, OAuth 2 improves the user experience by allowing users to access multiple applications with one set of login credentials.

OAuth is used for secure authorization instead of sharing passwords. It allows apps to access your personal information on other platforms with your permission. This way, you control what data is shared and keep your passwords secure.

Basic authentication isn't able to limit grades of access permission, so one point of access to an application potentially opens up multiple avenues to all the data a user has access to. Users should have access only to the data needed for a particular function, nothing more.

Enhanced Security: OAuth does not require users to provide their credentials directly to third parties, significantly reducing the risk of credential exposure.

The purpose of OAuth2 Tokens is to authorize requests at a first-party server (or API). If the third party uses the OAuth2 Access Token as proof of authentication, an attacker could easily impersonate a legitimate user.

Many companies use OAuth to simplify access to third-party apps and websites without divulging their users' passwords or sensitive data.

Enhanced Security: Bearer Token is more secure than Basic Authentication, especially when used over secure channels (like HTTPS). They can also be designed to include features like token expiration and revocation.

Which authentication method is the most secure? ›

1. Biometric Authentication Methods. Biometric authentication relies on the unique biological traits of a user in order to verify their identity. This makes biometrics one of the most secure authentication methods as of today.

Certificate-based authentication

CBA is considered very secure because it's based on public/private key cryptography, where the private key acts as a combination that never leaves the device.

One (1) of the most critical deficiencies of Basic Authentication is the lack of encryption for transmitting credentials. Usernames and passwords are base64-encoded before being sent, making them susceptible to interception by attackers using techniques like packet sniffing.

Password-based authentication

Passwords can be in the form of a string of letters, numbers, or special characters. To protect yourself you need to create strong passwords that include a combination of all possible options. However, passwords are prone to phishing attacks and bad hygiene that weakens effectiveness.

By September 2025, the increasingly outdated Basic auth method will have been phased out completely and replaced by the OAuth protocol when using Microsoft email relay functionality (SMTP AUTH).

Security Concerns: In the basic API authentication method, if the credentials are sent in plain text then it makes them susceptible to introspection. Further, if the connection is not encrypted, sensitive data can be exposed easily.