Google has announced it is doing away with passwords on all apps and services in an effort to push its users to create “passkeys” to unlock their accounts and devices with biometrics like face scan and fingerprint or by typing a pin number.
The company first unveiled support for passkeys in May, and after receiving positive feedback from customers, it is making the feature a default option to access personal accounts across Google services.
Google Gives Users the Option to Skip Passwords When Signing In
According to a blog post by Google, users will start seeing prompts to create and use passkeys when signing in to their Google Accounts. They will also find that the “Skip password when possible” option is toggled on in the settings.
passkeys can unlock customer devices with fingerprint, face scan, or pin, and claims the system to be 40% faster than passwords and relies on a type of cryptography that is far more secure.
Google
However, the tech giant noted that the relatively new technology will “take time to catch on”, which happens to be the reason why passwords still remain an option. Users who want to continue using their passwords can opt out by turning off the “skip password when possible” option from the Google Account settings.
The company boasts that its passkey system is phishing resistant and is beneficial for users in a way that they won’t have to worry about “remembering all those numbers and special characters” in their passwords.
Uber, eBay, and YouTube Among Apps that have Already Enabled Passkeys
Several apps have already enabled password alternatives on their platforms, including YouTube, Google Search, Google Maps, Uber, and Ebay. These applications give people the option to access their personal accounts seamlessly, without requiring a password. Instant messaging platform Whatsapp is also working on making its service passkey compatible.
Passkeys have reduced users’ dependency on traditional passwords and simplified their in-app experience while promoting accessibility and enhancing security, commented Ramsin Betyousef, senior director of engineering at Uber. He also added that passkeys are a “win-win” for Uber and its customers as the ride-hailing and food delivery service has experienced great results from launching the feature across its various apps – Uber, Uber Eats, Uber Fleet, Postmates, and Uber Lite.
Alice Newton-Rex of Whatsapp said passkey verification would make logging into Whatsapp much easier and more secure. The feature would give users an added layer of security, added the head of products at the Meta-owned company.
Meanwhile, Deepak Sharma, the vice president of payments and risk engineering at eBay, said passkeys have the potential to revolutionize the way in which users access their accounts. He lauded how the password-less entry mechanism would offer eBay customers a “highly secure, fast, and smart sign-in experience” that could work effortlessly across all their devices.
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FIDO is Developing Passkey Standards for Google, Apple, and Microsoft
The Fast Identity Online (FIDO) Alliance is the group helping tech companies implement the passwordless transition. FIDO has previously developed passkey standards for Microsoft, Apple, Google, and hundreds of other tech firms.
Commenting on the technology, Alex Simoons, who heads Microsoft’s Identity Program Management team, said the shift to a passwordless world starts with customers making it a natural part of their lives. He also mentioned that if tech companies band together, they can achieve “this vision” and make significant progress toward fully eliminating passwords.
Google first rolled out passkey support for its Chrome web browser and Android-powered smartphones in October 2022. The company is yet to confirm a date for when passwords will be entirely phased out for its billions of users across all of its platforms,
cybersecurity experts say their death is inevitable while hackers continue to exploit their vulnerability.
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