What is the primary benefit of using passwordless authentication for user accounts?

The primary benefit of using passwordless authentication is that it eliminates the risk of password breaches. Traditional password-based systems are vulnerable to a range of attacks, including phishing, brute force, and credential stuffing, where attackers gain access to user accounts by obtaining passwords. By implementing passwordless authentication methods, such as biometric verification, hardware tokens, or one-time codes sent to a user's mobile device, the reliance on static passwords is removed. This significantly diminishes the likelihood of unauthorized access because even if an attacker intercepts a token or code, it is often only valid for a single session or for a very short period. Thus, passwordless authentication provides a stronger security posture by effectively mitigating the weaknesses associated with password management and storage.