Encrypted Passwords vs Token Based Authentication

Developers should implement encrypted passwords in any system handling user authentication, such as web applications, mobile apps, or enterprise software, to comply with security standards like GDPR and prevent data theft meets developers should use token based authentication when building stateless apis, such as restful or graphql services, as it scales well by eliminating server-side session storage and supports cross-origin requests in single page applications (spas) and mobile apps. Here's our take.

Encrypted Passwords

Nice Pick

Developers should implement encrypted passwords in any system handling user authentication, such as web applications, mobile apps, or enterprise software, to comply with security standards like GDPR and prevent data theft

Pros

• This is critical for protecting against attacks like credential stuffing or rainbow table attacks, where attackers exploit leaked password databases
• Related to: authentication, cryptography

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Token Based Authentication

Developers should use Token Based Authentication when building stateless APIs, such as RESTful or GraphQL services, as it scales well by eliminating server-side session storage and supports cross-origin requests in Single Page Applications (SPAs) and mobile apps

Pros

• It is ideal for microservices architectures where services need to verify user identity without shared session stores, and for implementing features like single sign-on (SSO) across multiple applications
• Related to: json-web-tokens, oauth-2

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Encrypted Passwords if: You want this is critical for protecting against attacks like credential stuffing or rainbow table attacks, where attackers exploit leaked password databases and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Token Based Authentication if: You prioritize it is ideal for microservices architectures where services need to verify user identity without shared session stores, and for implementing features like single sign-on (sso) across multiple applications over what Encrypted Passwords offers.

The Bottom Line

Encrypted Passwords wins

Developers should implement encrypted passwords in any system handling user authentication, such as web applications, mobile apps, or enterprise software, to comply with security standards like GDPR and prevent data theft