Beware of Pseudo-2 Factor Authentication

Hitoshi Kokumai
2 min readDec 14, 2021

Please imagine that you are comparing two models of smartphones — Model A with a default pincode and Model B with a default pincode and biometrics.

You first hear that Model A is protected by pincode while Model B is protected by pincode and biometrics.

You then hear that Model A can be unlocked by pincode while Model B can be unlocked by pincode and biometrics.

You now hear that Model A can be attacked by pincode while Model B can be attacked by pincode and biometrics.

Which of Model A and Model B do you wish to use where you need good security?

Should you be interested to know where we are going, please watch this 2-minute video — https://youtu.be/wuhB5vxKYlg

Key References

Biometrics is to Password what Back door is to Front door

Removal of Passwords and Its Security Effect

Negative Security Effect of Biometrics Deployed in Cyberspace

External Body Features Viewed as ‘What We Are’

Additional References

For Achieving Solid Digital Identity on Information Security Buzz (Mar/2021)

What We Know for Certain about Authentication Factors

Digital Identity for Global Citizens
Image-to-Code Conversion by Expanded Password System

Summary and Brief History — Expanded Password System

Proposition on How to Build Sustainable Digital Identity Platform

Account Recovery with Expanded Password System

History, Current Status and Future Scenarios of Expanded Password System

Availability-First Approach

Update: Questions and Answers — Expanded Password System and Related Issues

< Videos on YouTube>

Slide: Outline of Expanded Password System (3minutes 2seconds)

Digital Identity for Global Citizens (10minutes — narrated)

Demo: Simplified Operation on Smartphone for consumers (1m41s)

Demo: High-Security Operation on PC for managers (4m28s)

Demo: Simple capture and registration of pictures by users (1m26s)

Slide: Biometrics in Cyber Space — “below-one” factor authentication

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Hitoshi Kokumai

Advocate of ‘Identity Assurance by Our Own Volition and Memory’, Inventor of Expanded Password System and Founder of Mnemonic Identity Solutions Limited in UK.