Are passwords going out of style? Passkeys are the newest advancement in computer security, but what are they exactly? Are companies moving towards this new trend?
Password vs Passkey
Complex or strong passwords have been the talk of the town for years. Hackers find it harder to guess your password if it is all random letters or numbers. It should have symbols and be unique. The only problem is that you often forget it or use the same password for everything, which sends us back to square one. Passkeys supposedly fix this problem, but how? And what are they exactly? In simplest terms, a passkey is like an old-fashioned key and lock. A passkey is device specfic. So for example, your phone creates a unique passkey (a pine, fingerprint, or facial recognition) and saves it to your phone. This is the private key that only your device has. It is not saved on any website servers. So if Google gets hacked, for example, your private passkey wouldn't be there. The other part of a passkey is the public key. This is like the lock. The public key is what is saved on website servers. So when you go to log into a website the public key has to recognize the private key on your device. After your device authenticates your identity, the two keys combine to grant you access to your account. The benefit of this is you can stop remembering passwords! If you have your device you have your means of entry. While passkeys are quite ready for prime time, most companies with start to transition to passkeys within the next year. Check out this video below for more information.
Microsoft Passkeys
Microsoft is expanding its support for passkeys in Windows 11 by allowing third-party providers to offer passkey solutions alongside the native Windows Hello passkey feature. Windows Hello is already utilizing the passkey feature on Windows devices which allows users to sign in to their computer using biometric authentication like facial recognition or fingerprint scanning, instead of a traditional password. But with the aforementioned expansion, people will be able to choose a third-party provider for their passkeys. This allows for a seamless transition to passkeys and hopefully puts passwords squarely in the rearview mirror. For more information on Windows Hello see the video below.
What To Expect
In summation, passkeys are an upcoming feature everyone will be using. They are more secure, and since passkeys are tied to specific websites and apps, they reduce the risk of phishing attacks. They are also just more convenient. You no longer have to memorize and keep track of fifty different passwords. This reduces the mental load and frustration associated with password management. So keep your eyes peeled over the next six months to a year for the move to passkeys!
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