Passkeys Will Make Passwords Obsolete—Here’s What You Need to Know
Passkeys have changed the way of logging in online.
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I often receive notifications that say, ‘Your passwords need attention.’ Some passwords are reused, some have been exposed in data breaches, and others are flagged as weak.
Many companies are working to replace passwords, making signing into our accounts more secure. Passkeys are the process of fast identity check-in online.
You must have noticed that a few years ago, many sites started requiring multi-factor authentication, which adds an extra step to the login process, like texting a code to a phone so sites can verify who you are.
Logging in has become more challenging but also more secure. Now, the focus is on encouraging platforms and users to adopt a technology that could eliminate passwords entirely—passkeys.
What are Passkeys?
- Passkeys are a new form of credentials that let you sign in without a password.
They work like a key and lock—one encrypted file is stored with you, and the other on the website. When they match, access is granted, making this method more secure and user-friendly.
- They are safe from phishing and copying.
After setting the passkeys for a website, one can sign in the same way as when unlocking the phone with a face, fingerprint, or PIN. The process is easy and familiar as we use it on Google and Amazon.
Very soon, passkeys could be all you use, and passwords rest in peace.
What are the problems with using passwords?
- Long and complex
- Multi-factor authentication
- Prone to hacking and data breaching
- Passwords aren’t as private as they seem—anyone can steal them.
Many people reuse the same password across multiple accounts, making it easier for hackers to access personal information, steal money, or take sensitive documents by logging into those accounts.
- Our identities are at risk.
Government organizations, companies, and banks teamed up to come up with a solution to secure accounts.
- The effort started with multi-factor authentication.
While security has improved, it has become a hassle. Password requirements grew more complex with special characters, longer lengths, and mixing upper and lowercase letters, making them harder to remember. Adding to the challenge, verifying via push notifications on another device can be inconvenient.
So, the solution emerged in the form of Passkey.
Why is Passkey the solution?
- It is effortless to use and is the safest way to secure a digital identity.
Passkey is the easiest way from the user’s point of view. The user has to log in with the old process and the websites will ask if the user wants to set up as a passkey. If the user does it, it will generate two files and prompt the user to unlock the phone with your face, fingerprint, PIN, or swipe pattern, depending on the choice.
- The passkey is linked to your device and stored in the cloud or a password manager.
When you log in again, the site checks if you have the matching key. If you do, unlocking your account takes just two seconds.
- The process varies across different sites, but once you set a passkey, you can log in with a single touch.
The site simply scans your face, fingerprint, or pattern, and you’re instantly logged in.
Challenges with the passkeys
Many companies are pushing towards passkeys. This led to alerts us for some challenges that the passkeys may face
- A passkey manager is the main requirement.
- Few companies for now are using passkeys.
- Those who want to shift from Andriod to iPhone will have trouble migrating all those passkeys.
Fortunately, most devices now include password managers, which also serve as passkey managers, securely storing your passkeys. As this challenge is recognized, a solution is on the horizon. People are welcoming passkeys with open arms in the hope of a better solution.