Microsoft has announced the full rollout of passkey support for all consumer accounts, expanding the feature beyond Windows 11 to include Windows, Android, and iOS devices. The expansion allows users to sign in to their Microsoft accounts using facial recognition, fingerprint scans, or PINs, instead of traditional passwords.
Passkeys work by using a pair of cryptographic keys: one stored on the user’s device and another held by the service provider. The system uses WebAuthn technology to enhance security and simplify the login process across various platforms including Gmail, PayPal, and iCloud.
WebAuthn (Web Authentication) is a security standard designed to replace traditional passwords with more secure and user-friendly methods of authentication, and ensures that various systems and devices can work together securely to authenticate users.
In case a device is lost or damaged, Microsoft users can still access their accounts through alternative devices or recover their accounts via other authentication methods like phone numbers, email, or hardware security keys.
Major platforms and password managers like Apple, Google, 1Password, and Dashlane now support passkeys. Microsoft’s implementation of passkeys is also poised to support mobile application logins in the near future, continuing its shift towards a passwordless approach to authentication that began with the introduction of Windows Hello in 2015 and expanded with support for FIDO security keys in 2018.
In a blog post, Microsoft’s Vasu Jakkal and Joy Chik said that further expanded support will enable customers to log into mobile versions of Microsoft apps using passkeys “in the coming weeks.”
–
May 6, 2024 – by Cass Kennedy
Follow Us