There's no way to avoid passwords unless you don't connect to the internet, which clearly isn't true. Passwords are a prerequisite to any online activity, which means it's possible to drown in the abundance of passwords -- that is, if you make a unique one for each online account.

Most of us, though, if not all, use the same password for most of our accounts because we're too lazy to create a different one and have to remember it for the rest of our lives. Jotting them down on a notebook is not a good practice either. Clearly, the struggle is real when it comes to remembering passwords.

But a solution to the password problem is actually just around the corner. It has been in existent for some years now, but its implementation hasn't reached a global scale.

We're talking about biometrics, which is the potential solution to this predicament. Many companies are using biometric authentication because it offers a more powerful type of security among users, by way of fingerprint, voice, or face identification. Simply put, a company can be more certain that the user unlocking a system or device is the rightful owner. This creates a significantly safer environment and is much easier to use since it doesn't require memorizing a set of characters.

Unlike passwords and two-step identification, biometric authentication is more challenging to manipulate. But it's not invincible per se -- it simply creates a safer environment. For this reason, biometrics has become the base of a new system that offers a more secure alternative to character-based passwords.

Due to the widespread malicious attacks and reports of being victims of massive data breaches, it shouldn't come as a surprise that biometric identification will become more popular than ever. If you own a business, you should welcome this change. There will be fewer hacks, and your employees will be able to work in a safer environment. In turn, your customers will be happier too.

For a lot of people, the need to remember or take note of all their passwords is eliminated -- they simply have to present themselves to gain access.

Biometrics is extremely difficult to spoof. Though there remain some loopholes in biometric authentication, the liveness detection can assure maximum security. With so much at risk, both an accurate understanding of potential vulnerabilities and a solid identity theft prevention plan are essential to preserving the privacy and integrity of personal data.