MFA Security Issues

How to Fix Password Attempts After Enabling Passwordless Sign-In

Huda Qurayshi Oct 9, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users observe continuous password-based sign-in attempts in their security logs despite having successfully enabled passwordless authentication.

How to Fix Password Attempts After Enabling Passwordless Sign-In

Product: Authentication Systems
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Reviewing system security and authentication audit logs after migrating to a passwordless sign-in environment.
Observed behavior: Authentication logs record ongoing unsuccessful password attempts because automated attackers continue to target exposed login endpoints, even though passwordless auth is enabled.

Before you start

Ensure you have administrative access to your organization's identity provider dashboard and sign-in audit logs before making security changes.

Solution 1Recommended

Review Sign-in Logs and Verify Passwordless Configurations

Analyze your authentication logs to confirm the source of the attempts and ensure passwordless settings are correctly applied.

Even with passwordless authentication enabled, public login endpoints may still receive password attempts from automated botnets. Reviewing your logs helps distinguish between random automated attacks and targeted breaches, ensuring your configuration is sound.

Access Authentication Logs

Navigate to your identity provider's administrative console and open the sign-in audit logs or security dashboard.

Filter the Attempts

Filter the logs by the targeted user account, IP address, location, and authentication method to isolate the suspicious password-based activity.

Verify Passwordless Configuration

Open the specific user's account settings to confirm that passwordless authentication is strictly enforced and that legacy password fallback is disabled.

Monitor for Success: Failed attempts are normal background noise, but investigate any successful suspicious sign-ins immediately.

Solution 2

Enforce Conditional Access and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Deploy additional security policies to block unauthorized access even if a legacy authentication method is attempted by an attacker.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do attackers still try passwords on a passwordless account?

Attackers generally use automated scripts that blindly target exposed sign-in endpoints across the internet. They are unaware of your specific authentication setup and will try compromised or common passwords regardless of whether your account is passwordless.

Are unsuccessful password attempts a major security risk?

Failed attempts themselves do not breach your account, but they indicate that your username or email might be publicly known or included in a data breach. Always monitor your logs to ensure no unauthorized attempts are ever successful.

How does conditional access improve passwordless security?

Conditional access adds an extra, intelligent layer of security by evaluating the user's IP address, device compliance, and geographic location before granting access. This effectively blocks suspicious automated attempts before they can even try to authenticate.

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