Modern Authentication Best Practices

Implement authentication using established frameworks and standards rather than building custom solutions. Modern standards like OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, and WebAuthn have been thoroughly tested and address common vulnerabilities. Use adaptive authentication that considers context—login attempts from new locations, devices, or at unusual times should trigger additional verification.

Implement proper password policies that encourage strong, unique passwords without counterproductive rules that lead to predictable patterns. Use password strength meters, check against breached password databases, and encourage password manager usage. Store passwords using strong, adaptive hashing functions with proper salting. Implement progressive delays or temporary lockouts for failed authentication attempts to prevent brute force attacks.

For session management, generate cryptographically secure random session identifiers, implement absolute and idle timeouts, and properly invalidate sessions on logout. Use secure, httpOnly, sameSite cookies for web applications. Implement proper session fixation protection by regenerating session IDs after successful authentication. Monitor for suspicious authentication patterns like impossible travel (logins from geographically distant locations in impossible timeframes) or unusual access patterns. Remember, authentication is your application's front door—it must be both secure and usable.