Sign in Subscribe
Web Hosting Articles

A Guide to Implementing WebAuthn for Stronger Authentication on Your Website on Hosting

A Guide to Implementing WebAuthn for Stronger Authentication on Your Website on Hosting


Implementing WebAuthn for stronger authentication on your website is a great step towards enhancing security. WebAuthn is a standard developed by the W3C and FIDO Alliance that allows for passwordless authentication using hardware tokens, biometrics, or other secure methods.

Here's a guide to help you implement WebAuthn on your website hosted on a server:

Step 1: Understand WebAuthn

Before you begin, make sure you have a basic understanding of how WebAuthn works. Familiarize yourself with the concepts of authenticators, clients, and relying parties. You can refer to the official WebAuthn documentation for detailed information.

Step 2: Check Browser Support

Ensure that the browsers you are targeting support WebAuthn. As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, most modern browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari, have WebAuthn support. However, it's always good to check for any updates or changes beyond that date.

Step 3: Set Up HTTPS

WebAuthn requires a secure connection. Make sure your website is served over HTTPS. You can obtain SSL certificates from services like Let's Encrypt for free.

Step 4: Choose a WebAuthn Library or API

You can choose to implement WebAuthn from scratch using the WebAuthn API or use a library to simplify the process. Some popular libraries include:

Step 5: Generate a Challenge

On your server, generate a random challenge for the WebAuthn request. This challenge will be used to verify the authenticity of the response.

Step 6: Register Users

For new users, you need to register them with WebAuthn. This involves the following steps:

  1. Create a Credential ID: Generate a unique identifier for the user's authenticator.
  2. Create a Public Key: Obtain the public key associated with the user's authenticator.
  3. Store Credential Information: Associate the credential ID and public key with the user in your database.

Step 7: Authenticate Users

For existing users, when they want to log in, you will need to:

  1. Retrieve Registered Credentials: Get the stored credential information associated with the user.
  2. Initiate WebAuthn Authentication Request: Send a request to the user's authenticator for authentication.
  3. Verify Authentication Response: Check the response from the authenticator against the stored credential information.

Step 8: Handle Errors and Edge Cases

Consider scenarios like user cancellations, timeouts, or authentication failures. Implement error handling to guide users through the process.

Step 9: Test Thoroughly

Test your implementation in various scenarios and browsers to ensure it works as expected. Pay attention to edge cases and any potential security vulnerabilities.

Step 10: Update Documentation

If you have user-facing documentation, update it to include instructions on how to set up WebAuthn for their accounts.

Step 11: Monitor and Maintain

Regularly monitor your implementation for any security updates or changes in the WebAuthn standard. Keep abreast of any developments in the field of authentication.

Remember that this guide provides a high-level overview. Depending on your specific technology stack and platform, you may need to adapt these steps accordingly. Always refer to the official WebAuthn documentation and seek professional advice if you have specific security concerns.

Read next