In the tech world, the way we authenticate ourselves online is constantly evolving. Microsoft is taking a big step towards a passwordless future by rolling out passkey support for all consumer accounts. This new feature allows users to generate passkeys across Windows, Android, and iOS platforms, making it easier to sign in without having to type a password every time. But what exactly are passkeys, and how do they work in this new era of authentication?
Passkeys are a new way to authenticate yourself online, replacing traditional passwords with your device’s own authentication methods. By creating a passkey, you can use your face, fingerprint, PIN, or a security key to sign in to your Microsoft account, Gmail, PayPal, iCloud, and other services. Passkeys are built on WebAuthn technology, generating two keys – one stored by the service where your account is and a private key stored on your device for identity verification. This adds an extra layer of security to your online accounts.
One major concern with passkeys is what happens if your device is lost or broken. Since passkeys can work across multiple devices, it is important to have a backup plan in place. Many services that support passkeys also offer alternative methods of authentication, such as reauthentication to your phone number or email address, or using a hardware security key. Companies like Apple, Google, and password managers like 1Password and Dashlane already support passkeys, ensuring a seamless and secure authentication process.
Passkeys represent a significant milestone in Microsoft’s journey towards a passwordless future. With the introduction of Windows Hello authentication in 2015, Microsoft has been at the forefront of exploring new ways to sign in without passwords. The addition of FIDO security keys in 2018 and a fully passwordless option for Microsoft accounts in 2021 have paved the way for the widespread adoption of passkeys. Apple, Google, and other tech giants have joined Microsoft in this effort, with over 400 million Google accounts already using passkeys.
Passkeys are ushering in a new era of authentication, moving us towards a passwordless future. With Microsoft leading the way and other tech companies following suit, passkeys are becoming the industry norm for signing in securely and conveniently online. With the support of major services and password managers, passkeys are set to revolutionize the way we authenticate ourselves in the digital world. As we embrace this new technology, the days of struggling to remember complex passwords may soon become a thing of the past.
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