Big tech has been talking of doing away with the password as we know it for years. Apple, Microsoft and Google have all attempted but the slow phase out of passwords due to their vulnerability has been slow as billions of internet users are slow to make the change. This prompted many tech companies to rather introduce two-factor authentication (2FA) as a build up on the password.
Passkeys are a new type of authentication method that aims to be more secure and convenient than traditional passwords. Instead of typing in a complex combination of characters, users are assigned a unique digital Passkey that is stored securely on their device.
One advantage of Passkeys is that they are less susceptible to phishing attacks. Phishing is a type of cyber-attack where hackers trick users into revealing their login credentials by posing as a trustworthy entity, such as a bank or a social media website. Since Passkeys are stored locally on the user’s device and are never transmitted over the internet, they are immune to these types of attacks.
Another benefit of Passkeys is that they are user-friendly. Users don’t have to remember complex passwords or worry about password expiration dates. Instead, they simply need to authenticate themselves using their Passkey whenever they want to access a service.
Google is one of the first companies to implement support for Passkeys across its services. The feature is currently in the testing phase and is only available to a limited number of users. However, it has the potential to revolutionize online security and could eventually become the standard method of authentication for all internet services.
To give you an example of how Passkeys work in practice, imagine that you want to log in to your Gmail account. Instead of typing in your email address and password, you would simply enter your Passkey into the Google sign-in page. This would verify your identity and grant you access to your account.
Passkeys can take different forms, depending on the implementation. For example, some Passkeys are generated randomly and are only valid for a single use. Others are biometric, such as fingerprints or facial recognition, and use the unique features of a user’s body to authenticate them.
Passkeys are an exciting development in the field of online security. They offer a more secure and user-friendly alternative to traditional passwords and have the potential to make online authentication more streamlined and convenient.
