Goodbye Passwords, Hello Passkeys!
The future is passwordless! Apple announced this past June that it will begin rolling out passwordless logins across Apple devices this September. This means that you don’t need to use passwords to login to apps or websites if you’re using Apple Passkeys (iOS 16 and macOS Ventura). Let’s dive into the benefits.
What is an Apple Passkey?
Apple’s Passkey is essentially a highly secure way to verify your identity. Create a Passkey with Touch ID or Face ID, so that you only need to use Touch ID or Face ID to login! The Passkey will then replace your passwords across devices connected to your iCloud account. (Plus, you can even use your iPhone to login to apps and websites on non-Apple devices.)
Why a Passkey over a password?
For one, passwords are hard to remember. Keeping the same password across multiple sites leaves you vulnerable to hackers, while changing it for every site leaves you liable to forget your password when the time comes to login. Passkeys do not require any memorization on your part, and they are much better protected.
According to Apple, “passkeys are easier to use and far more secure.” They use “cryptographic key pairs” to improve security that is safe from server leaks and phishing. Phishing in particular is eliminated because passkeys are linked only to the app or website they were made for; you can’t be tricked into using your passkey to sign into a fraudulent app or website designed to glean your personal information.
The best part? Apple can’t read your Passkeys either! The encryption process in iCloud allows you to keep your Passkeys completely private, just between you and your app or website provider. This also means that even if your iCloud is compromised by an external attack, your Passkeys and passwords will still be protected.
What about my old passwords?
They don’t go away! You can use Passkeys with passwords. The transition is easy because you don’t need to change your sign-in page based on whether you’re logging in with a Passkey or a password.
It seems like the world is already moving towards a passwordless future. Apple, Google, and Microsoft came together this past May “to expand support for password-less authentication systems across their various platforms” (Apple Insider). Also, many apps and websites now allow logins through “biometrics,” including face and fingerprint identification, similar to the Apple Passkey. While they require an account with a password before doing so, the inclusion of new ways to login indicates a trend that is likely here to stay.
So what are you waiting for? Work smarter and safer with Apple Passkeys. For help getting started, reach out to our team! Let’s move forward together.