December 14, 2023 at 01:27PM
Discord has launched the security key multi-factor authentication (MFA) feature for all users, offering enhanced security and anti-phishing benefits. Users can now utilize WebAuthn to replace legacy MFA systems, providing protection against credential theft. This feature allows for secure and convenient logins using biometrics and physical security keys, making it resistant to phishing and replay attacks.
Meeting Takeaways:
1. Discord has introduced security key multi-factor authentication (MFA) using the WebAuthn standard to enhance security for all of its 500+ million registered users.
2. The new feature aims to provide protection against credential theft by requiring a physical device for account access, and offers advantages over traditional password-based authentication.
3. Benefits of WebAuthn include being non-phisable, non-guessable, and easy to use, making it resistant to phishing attacks and replay attacks, while providing seamless integration with biometrics and hardware keys for user authentication.
4. WebAuthn is supported across all major web browsers, but its integration into Discord’s electron client and mobile apps required development work using native languages such as Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android, and the Electron framework for Windows and macOS desktop apps.
5. Legacy MFA options are still available for users who require them, and Discord has assured continued work on introducing WebAuthn-based password-less login in the future.