Google Is Rolling Out Password-Killing Tech to All Accounts (Image credit- WIRED)
Google has announced a significant initiative to allow users of its accounts to sign in using the password substitute known as “passkeys.” Users will be able to actively look for and enable the functionality once it goes live today for the company’s billions of accounts.
In the upcoming months, Google says it will push account holders to switch from the conventional username and password login to a passkey by promoting passkeys.
Since the dawn of the internet (and computing in general), password-based authentication has become the norm. However, the system has severe security flaws, including the possibility that hackers may steal your password or deceive you into providing it through phishing attacks.
The passkey system relies on a separate paradigm that leverages cryptographic keys kept on your devices for account authentication in order to specifically combat phishing assaults.
The biggest consumer operating systems in the world—made by Microsoft, Google, and Apple—have deployed the required infrastructure to enable passkeys in the year since the industry group known as the FIDO Alliance started publicly supporting the implementation of passkeys. However, you are not alone if you have never used a passkey in your daily life.
The next phase in the adoption of passkeys is for services to start providing passkeys as a user account login choice. Only a few businesses have jumped in so far, including PayPal, Shopify, CVS Health, Kayak, and Hyatt. Given the resources and sheer size of the corporation, it is notable that Google users can now access passkeys.
According to Andrew Shikiar, executive director of the FIDO Alliance, “It’s very, very significant.” It’s a turning point. Since so many people are actually using passkey sign-ins thanks to companies like Google, they are more likely to use them elsewhere. Additionally, because we will collectively learn from this, it will hasten and improve the deployment plans of other companies.
Also read: No More Passwords; Passkeys Are The Key To The Future
You can use physical authentication dongles like YubiKeys, biometric sensors like fingerprint or face scanners, your smartphone’s device lock PIN, or passkeys to log in. In order to switch your Google account, go to this link, click “+ Create a passkey” on the device you’re using, and then enter your username, password, and any extra authentication factors you have configured.
