Microsoft Is Giving You The Option Of Eliminating The Password While Letting You Use Your Phone For Authentication

Microsoft wants to make it easier for users to log in to your account by skipping the password part during authentication. In a blog post, Microsoft says “we’re shifting the security burden from your memory to your device. Just add your account to the Android or iOS Microsoft Authenticator app, then enter your username as usual when signing in somewhere new. “

Now this works like the Google sign in prompts in that when Google wants you to confirm that it’s you who’s trying to carry out changes on your account, you are sometimes prompted to open the Google app on your pre-registered device to confirm. The basic difference between what Microsoft is offering today from that of Google is that, the password process will be completely eliminated should you choose. This means that you need to initially download the app and follow the instructions and from there on out, you’ll only be prompted to approve logins and that’s it.

These prompts help you guard against unauthorised access to your account but the other news is that you can disable this at any time and switch back to the good old password regime. 

Here’s how to get started with the Microsoft Authenticator as provided by Identity division of the software giant;

• If you already use the Microsoft Authenticator for your personal account, select the dropdown button on your account tile, and choose Enable phone sign-in.
• If you are adding a new account on an Android phone, we’ll automatically prompt you to set it up.
• If you are adding a new account on an iPhone, and we’ll automatically set it up for you by default.