Nok-Nok-Labs

Nok Nok Labs Offers Updated Solutions to Mobile Authentication Concerns

December 9, 2024         By: Michael Cheng

Nok Nok Labs, a Palo Alto-based Internet security company, expressed its support in the latest mobile authentication developments reported by the FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) Alliance.

In the finalization of 1.0 standards or FIDO 1.0, the group’s main objective is to provide businesses, payment providers, and merchants with an updated authentication system for secure and consistent transactions.

“As a founding member of FIDO Alliance, we recognize the demand in the market for a unified solution to allow for a more secure yet simpler experience,” Phillip Dunkelberger, Nok Nok Labs President and CEO, said during a recent interview.

The company also announced the release of a new version of S3 Authentication Suite. The update includes FIDO Ready features and the support of the latest Universal Authentication Framework (UAF) standard, which will be rolled out to selected early-access users within the month.

Leading service providers in the payments industry currently using S3 Authentication Suite include PayPal and AliPay. The new authentication system relies on fingerprint sensors and USB keys as forms of personal identification. Such methods steer away from basic verification processes such as username and password combinations.

However, Dunklelberger clarified that the overall goal is to improve security as a whole in every industry, meaning that whether it be biometrics, tokenization, or some other security solution that wins out, the standards will remain technology agnostic.

The new technology can help establishments minimize the risk of security breaches and lower upkeep costs associated with password maintenance. The need for tighter mobile security infrastructure is a growing concern, especially for rapidly expanding businesses.

Dunkelberger, mentioned, “With authentication failures resulting in massive, costly breaches such as Target and Home Depot, the need for these new FIDO standards is clear.”

In order to streamline its latest offering, the company will release SDKs to various third party web and app developers. An Android SDK will first be made available in the coming weeks. The company aims to provide SDKs for other platforms early next year.