Safer than Passwords

Apple recently announced that it is developing a new authentication platform that will be more secure than traditional passwords and easier to use. Passkeys, as they are known, are another example of the growing trend toward passwordless log-on technology.

Users will be required to set up an account by first choosing a username. They can then use Face ID or Touch ID to confirm their identity. The passkey is generated and stored in the device, and iCloud Keychain synchronizes it across all of the user’s devices. Subsequent log-ins require just a single tap.

Bad passwords are still the most common security vulnerabilities today, not to mention that people have a difficult time remembering all of them. But it’s more important than ever to protect our accounts from cyberattacks and phishing scams, and the passkey approach could make servers less tempting targets for hackers by removing the need for troves of secret log-on information. It remains to be seen whether passkeys are secure enough to reduce the need for two-factor identification (i.e., passwords and biometrics).

Currently, the technology works only on iOS devices; however, the company is collaborating with FIDO (Fast Identity Online) Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to make it available for Windows computers and Android phones.