The Reading / Listening - Web Authentication - Level 4

Login usernames and passwords may be ending. A more secure login system known as Web Authentication is coming. This is an official login process at the Internet standards body, the World Wide Web Consortium (WWWC). It will be common in web browsers and platforms worldwide. It is simpler and stronger authentication. Users will log in securely to websites using either a digital device, biometrics (like fingerprints) or USB security keys.

The WWWC spoke about this. It said: "It's common knowledge that passwords have outlived their efficacy." It said stolen, weak or default passwords are behind 81 per cent of data breaches. It also said passwords are a waste of time and resources. Businesses should start Web Authentication to avoid the problem of weak passwords and to help improve security. This will reduce the risk of having passwords stolen.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Web Authentication - Level 5 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. A more
  2. This is an official login
  3. It will be
  4. in web browsers
  5. Users will log in
  6. a digital
  7. biometrics
  8. USB security
  1. (like fingerprints)
  2. common
  3. and platforms
  4. keys
  5. device
  6. secure login
  7. process
  8. securely

Paragraph 2

  1. The WWWC spoke
  2. It's common
  3. passwords have outlived their
  4. behind 81 per cent
  5. a waste time
  6. avoid the problem of weak
  7. This will reduce the
  8. having passwords
  1. and resources
  2. risk
  3. knowledge
  4. stolen
  5. efficacy
  6. of data breaches
  7. about this
  8. passwords

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Login usernames and passwords (1) ___________________. A more secure login system known as Web Authentication is coming. This (2) ___________________ login process at the Internet standards body, the World Wide Web Consortium (WWWC). It will (3) ___________________ web browsers and platforms worldwide. It is (4) ___________________ authentication. Users will (5) ___________________ to websites using either a digital device, biometrics (like fingerprints) or (6) ___________________.

The WWWC spoke about this. It said: "It's (7) ___________________ passwords have outlived their efficacy." It said stolen, (8) ___________________ passwords are behind 81 per cent (9) ___________________. It also said passwords are a (10) ___________________ and resources. Businesses should start Web Authentication to avoid the (11) ___________________ passwords and to help improve security. This will reduce the (12) ___________________ passwords stolen.

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Loginusernamesandpasswordsmaybeending.Amoresecureloginsys
temknownasWebAuthenticationiscoming.Thisisanofficialloginproce
ssattheInternetstandardsbody,theWorldWideWebConsortium(WW
WC).Itwillbecommoninwebbrowsersandplatformsworldwide.Itissim
plerandstrongerauthentication.Userswillloginsecurelytowebsitesusi
ngeitheradigitaldevice,biometrics(likefingerprints)orUSBsecurityke
ys.TheWWWCspokeaboutthis.Itsaid:"It'scommonknowledgethatpa
sswordshaveoutlivedtheirefficacy."Itsaidstolen,weakordefaultpass
wordsarebehind81percentofdatabreaches.Italsosaidpasswordsare
awasteoftimeandresources.BusinessesshouldstartWebAuthenticati
ontoavoidtheproblemofweakpasswordsandtohelpimprovesecurity.
Thiswillreducetheriskofhavingpasswordsstolen.

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.

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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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