Everyone. Hates. Passwords.
They’re a total pain: Having to create them, enter them, and then enter them again when you get one character wrong.
Ugh.
Horrible.
If you agree with me, there’s very good news.
Google has officially made passkeys the new default sign-in method for all personal accounts.
What are passkeys?
Let me explain. They’re being called the ‘next evolution for online security.’ Instead of having to remember a password, you can use a simple four-digit PIN or your biometrics (that’s fancy talk for fingerprints or face recognition) to login.
And guess what? They’re also harder for bad guys to steal.
Setting up a passkey is easier than finding a decent parking space in the city centre. Just head over to Google’s official passkeys website, create a PIN or connect your biometrics, and you’re done.
But wait, there’s a catch (isn’t there always?). Your PC needs to run at least Windows 10, Macs need macOS Ventura, and smartphones need Android 9 or iOS 16. And they only work on Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Google Chrome.
If you’re a fan of password managers, good news. Some of them now support passkeys, so you can store them away from Google itself.
Or if you’re thinking “passkeys? Not on my watch!’, don’t worry. You can opt-out. Just go to the Sign-in options page, find ‘Skip Password When Possible’, and turn off the switch.
But I recommend you embrace this change.
Why the sudden change, you ask? Google says 64% of surveyed users found passkeys easier to use than traditional login methods. Plus, logging in with a passkey is 40% faster.
The passkey revolution isn’t stopping here. Google plans to make it usable across Chrome and Android, and it’s already present on Uber and eBay, with WhatsApp soon to follow. Passwords are heading for the exit!
Are you looking forward to switching to passkeys? Or will you miss passwords?
https://www.techradar.com/computing/software/google-wants-you-to-ditch-passwords-as-it-turns-passkeys-into-the-new-standard
