The Reading / Listening - Web Authentication - Level 5

Login usernames and passwords may be ending. We won't have to worry about security when logging in. A more secure login system known as Web Authentication could replace passwords. This has become an official login process at the main Internet standards body, the World Wide Web Consortium (WWWC). It will be universally used by web browsers and platforms for simpler and stronger authentication. It will let website users log in securely to their online accounts using a digital device, biometrics (like fingerprints and facial recognition) or USB security keys.

The WWWC spoke about the end of passwords. It said: "It's common knowledge that passwords have outlived their efficacy. Not only are stolen, weak or default passwords behind 81 per cent of data breaches, they are a drain of time and resources." It said businesses should adopt Web Authentication to avoid vulnerable passwords and to help people improve their online security. Web Authentication means users are at less risk of having their passwords stolen. This is because login authentication is done with physical devices or biometrics from our body.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Web Authentication - Level 4 or  Web Authentication - Level 6

Sources
  • https://www.cnet.com/news/goodbye-passwords-webauthn-is-now-an-official-web-standard/
  • https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/03/05/webauthn-becomes-official-hardware-login-standard-for-browsers-like-apples-safari
  • https://thenextweb.com/security/2019/03/05/web-apps-will-soon-let-you-log-in-with-hardware-keys-and-fingerprints/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Phrase Matching

Paragraph 1

  1. usernames and passwords may
  2. A more secure login
  3. the main Internet standards
  4. It will be universally used by
  5. simpler and stronger
  6. log in
  7. fingerprints and facial
  8. USB security
  1. recognition
  2. web browsers
  3. securely
  4. keys
  5. body
  6. system
  7. be ending
  8. authentication

Paragraph 2

  1. The WWWC spoke about the
  2. It's common
  3. passwords have outlived
  4. 81 per cent of data
  5. they are a drain of time
  6. avoid vulnerable
  7. users are at less
  8. physical
  1. passwords
  2. breaches
  3. devices
  4. knowledge
  5. risk
  6. end of passwords
  7. and resources
  8. their efficacy

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Login usernames and passwords (1) ___________________. We won't have to worry about security (2) ___________________. A more secure login system known as Web Authentication could replace passwords. This has become an official login process (3) ___________________ Internet standards body, the World Wide Web Consortium (WWWC). It will be (4) ___________________ web browsers and platforms for simpler and stronger authentication. It will let website users log in (5) ___________________ online accounts using a digital device, biometrics (like fingerprints and facial recognition) or (6) ___________________.

The WWWC spoke about (7) ___________________ passwords. It said: "It's common knowledge that passwords have (8) ___________________. Not only are stolen, weak or default passwords behind 81 per cent of data breaches, they are a (9) ___________________ and resources." It said businesses should adopt Web Authentication (10) ___________________ passwords and to help people improve their online security. Web Authentication means users are (11) ___________________ of having their passwords stolen. This is because login authentication is (12) ___________________ devices or biometrics from our body.

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Loginusernamesandpasswordsmaybeending.Wewon'thavetoworry
aboutsecuritywhenloggingin.AmoresecureloginsystemknownasWe
bAuthenticationcouldreplacepasswords.Thishasbecomeanofficiallo
ginprocessatthemainInternetstandardsbody,theWorldWideWebCo
nsortium(WWWC).Itwillbeuniversallyusedbywebbrowsersandplatfo
rmsforsimplerandstrongerauthentication.Itwillletwebsiteuserslogin
securelytotheironlineaccountsusingadigitaldevice,biometrics(likefi
ngerprintsandfacialrecognition)orUSBsecuritykeys.TheWWWCspok
eabouttheendofpasswords.Itsaid:"It'scommonknowledgethatpass
wordshaveoutlivedtheirefficacy.Notonlyarestolen,weakordefaultpa
sswordsbehind81percentofdatabreaches,theyareadrainoftimeandr
esources."ItsaidbusinessesshouldadoptWebAuthenticationtoavoidv
ulnerablepasswordsandtohelppeopleimprovetheironlinesecurity.W
ebAuthenticationmeansusersareatlessriskofhavingtheirpasswordss
tolen.Thisisbecauseloginauthenticationisdonewithphysicaldeviceso
rbiometricsfromourbody.

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion — Write your own questions

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

(k) ________________

(l) ________________

(m) ________________

(n) ________________

(o) ________________

(p) ________________

Free writing

Write about this topic for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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