I was a passkey sceptic. But now I’m a believer in the password-free future
Microsoft began to deploy Passkey’s care to its consumer accounts in May 2024, allowing users to connect with their face, their fingerprint or their device pin as an alternative to a password. In May this year, Microsoft moved to Passkey the default connection for all new Microsoft accounts.
According to Microsoft, Passkey’s point is to make the future without password and counter attacks of 4,000 passwords that occur worldwide.
How does Passkey work?
Instead of a unique vulnerable secret password that can be stolen or guessed by pirates, Passkey Access uses two unique keys called cryptographic pairs.
A key is stored on your devices kept by your biometrics or your pin, and the other key remains with the application or the website for which you have created the Passkey. The key combination is unique and a successful sign requires that the two keys work.
Passkey represents a change in how most PC users have previously connected. I have always used a password to connect to my Microsoft account and I was skeptical at first, but after doing a little research, I changed my mind on this subject. Here are the four reasons why I am now happy that I am now using Passkey.
1. It’s so much faster than using a password
I timed by typing my password in relation to the use of my Passkey and I judge that it takes me on average 3 seconds less to connect via a passing touch than with a password (which takes into account the spelling errors that I often make) using the Windows Hello connection. It can be just a short time, but it seems much faster, which makes a difference for my day.
2. Security is stronger
Passkey uses both a public cryptography key and a private pin. This means that there is a component linked to my physical device and requires biometric authentication or authentication, there is therefore no chance that my connection is stolen via a phishing attempt or my account will be taken up by hackers.
3. I can use my passing key on all my devices
I remembered a bunch of complex passwords on my different devices, but now, as I can use Passkey on the devices, I can connect quickly and easily without even needing to remember a password. In addition, if I lose or upgrade my device, my passkey will be ready and will expect when I configure my new device.
Pexels: Tara Winstead
4. I can use it to connect to my most used websites
Have a passkey simplifies the signature of Microsoft apps and websites like Microsoft 365 and Copilot on the desktop. In addition, the number of websites that use Passkey is developing all the time.
