A password-less future is one step closer to reality

Starting this week, users logging in to personal Google accounts will be prompted to create and use passkeys instead of passwords. Meaning a future with less sticky notes by the computer is in sight.

🤔 What are passkeys?... Similar to that one song by that one artist whose name you can’t quite remember, the definition sounds familiar once you hear it. A passkey lets you sign into accounts using the same method that unlocks your device, such as Face ID, a fingerprint sensor, etc.

The main advantage to passkeys (besides not having to remember 30 different passwords) is that they’re phishing-resistant, because a hacker needs your actual device, not just your password, to break in.

If the device storing your passkeys gets broken or lost? No problemo.

• Passkeys work across multiple devices, so a backup may be available.
• Many services that support passkeys will also reauthenticate to your phone number or email address or to a hardware security key if you have one, per The Verge.

👀 Looking ahead… In a blog post announcing the passkey news, Google stated its intention to work towards making passwords “a rarity, and eventually obsolete.” And, like a nepotism hire, the tech giant may not have that much work to do. Many apps and companies already allow users to log-in to accounts using passkeys, including YouTube, Search, Maps, Uber, and eBay.