It’s no secret that passwords are becoming increasingly easy to hack. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that many tech companies are looking for alternatives to the traditional password-based authentication process. Passkeys, are a new form of authentication that makes it harder for hackers to access your accounts. But what exactly are passkeys and how do they work? 

What are Passkeys? 

Passkeys are unique codes used to verify user identity in lieu of a traditional password. They can be sent via email or text message or generated by an app on your mobile device. Once you receive the passkey, you enter it into the appropriate field on the login page and, voila! You’re in! No more remembering long passwords—just type in the code and you’re good to go! 

How Do Passkeys Work? 

Passkeys use two-factor authentication (2FA) to keep your accounts safe. This means that, in addition to your username or email address, you must also provide something else—in this case, a code—to prove that it is indeed you logging into the account. This makes it much more difficult for hackers since they would need to have access not only to your username/email but also to your phone/mobile device in order to gain access to your account. Since most people keep their phones close at hand, this provides an extra layer of security against potential cyber-attacks. 

What’s wrong with using a password? 

When it comes to passwords, we know we’re supposed to mix things up and make them long, but in practice, many people do not. Despite this, passkeys have provided an effective way for those of us with bad password practices to change our approach. Passwords that are too similar or easy to guess leave us vulnerable to malicious actors online, hence passkeys have been innovated as an attempt to tighten our security while still being user-friendly.

Why is using a passkey better? 

Using passkeys is an incredibly secure way to protect your online accounts. As well as the fact that you don’t even need to remember the password anymore since your phone will do it for you, you benefit from having the added layer of security. That’s because you have to have your phone with you in order for your passkey to be authenticated using your FaceID, phone pin or fingerprint - making it impossible for hackers from all over the world to get their hands on your personal information!

The use of passkeys is growing rapidly as tech companies search for better ways to secure their users’ data. While there is still some room for improvement when it comes to passkey security (for instance, some passcodes are still being sent via text message which can be intercepted), overall, these alternative authentication methods offer an added level of protection that traditional passwords cannot match. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect more secure solutions like these to become available in the future - solutions that make our online lives safer and easier than ever before!