I've noticed that a lot of websites, including OpenAI, have a two-step login process where you first enter your email and then are prompted to enter your password. It seems a bit odd to me. Why can't they ask for both pieces of information on the same page? What's the reasoning behind this setup?
5 Answers
One theory I have is that splitting the login process into two steps can slow down brute-force attacks on username/password combinations. This way, a hacker has to load multiple pages, which adds time to their attempts.
I personally find this design a bit frustrating. While there may be reasons for it, asking for an email and then a password separately makes it easier for someone to check if an email is registered, which isn't great for security.
In some companies, this approach helps preload customer data after the first step. Notifying applications early lets them cache data for faster loading, which can improve user experience significantly.
That makes sense! Allowing different prompts based on the user’s authentication type is also a smart strategy.
It's mostly for Single Sign-On (SSO) purposes. When you provide your email, the site checks the domain and may redirect you to an SSO integration, which can even skip the password step if your setup allows it. I use a password manager like 1Password that fills in my email and passwords seamlessly, so it makes the process quick for me.
Totally, my password manager does the same! It fills everything in automatically based on the form.
Haha, I initially misread 'SSO' as 'SEO' and was confused for a second!
The two-step login is often used to manage different login methods, like OTPs or Magic links. When you enter your email, the site can determine your account's login method and guide you to the right form based on that.
Interesting perspective! But isn't there an easier way to secure against that without a two-step process? I feel like there are better methods.