Let’s be honest. Passwords are a pain.
Coming up with one, not forgetting it, and typing it in.
It can be a real distraction when one of your apps logs you out and forces you to log back in.
It’s irritating to all of us. However, there may be an end in sight.
Microsoft, Google, and Apple are working together to end passwords for good.
In the next 12 months, there are plans to introduce no-password logins across all of their respective platforms, abiding by standards outlined by the FIDO Alliance, which is an organization that exists to develop and promote authentication standards that “help reduce the world’s over-reliance on passwords”.
The alternative to passwords is typically referred to as a passkey.
The passkey is like multi-factor authentication in that it requires a second device to prove it’s you, but with less effort.
Instead of having you click approve or copy a code on your device, your computer will use Bluetooth to detect your phone nearby.
If your phone is detected nearby, you will receive a verification message. Then unlock your phone the usual way (face ID, fingerprint, or PIN), then you’re in.
When you sign up on a new website or app, a key pair is made between your phone and the website. This is referred to as public key cryptography.
If losing your phone is a safety concern, you can rest knowing that someone would need to be able to unlock your device, not just have possession of it. This is a good reason to opt for using FaceID to secure your mobile device.
When you get a new phone, you can simply transfer over your information because passkeys will be backed up in the cloud.
Not only will the passkeys make accessing your accounts simpler, but they should also keep your data safer.
This system seems to be a big step forward in the world of authentication, and hopefully one that we all benefit from soon.