Google announced that it has started prompting users to set up a key on their devices, months after the company added support for secure login mechanisms to its services. The move to keys is part of a larger trend away from insecure passwords—a “passwordless” but secure alternative that lets you log into apps using biometric authentication on smartphones and other devices Programs and Services. Master Keys are also phishing resistant, which means they keep you safer while browsing the web.
according to a blog post As Google announced on Tuesday, you will soon be prompted to create a key that will be used to simplify the process of logging into your Google account. A key is a Fast Identity Online (FIDO) secret stored on a device such as a smartphone, or a password that can be used to log into websites, services, and applications. Instead of relying on passwords, it uses public-key encryption and biometric authentication on smartphones.
The key will use your face, fingerprint, or device PIN to log into your account
Photo source: Google
A new option called “Skip passwords if possible” will be enabled on your Google Account, and the company will prompt you to create a password when you try to log into your account in the future. Doing so will save the key to your device for secure use—to verify your identity using a form of verification such as facial recognition, fingerprint scan, or device PIN.
Google explained in a separate post that the company plans to Eliminate passwords completely In the future, there will also be so-called “Band-Aids” created to compensate for insecure passwords, such as multi-factor authentication apps and SMS codes. The private key stored on your device will be used with public encryption technology to confirm your identity without actually revealing the key’s contents to the server.
Keys are also more secure than regular passwords because they do not require users to remember long, unique passwords for various Web services. Instead, the system uses two components for authentication: a device that stores the keys and biometric information. This means that Master Key also provides a second form of authentication to confirm that you own your device – as some users may be worried about what will happen if their device is stolen.
WhatsApp will soon add support for logging in with passwords
Photo source: Google
Google also pointed to wider adoption of keys in the industry and quoted WhatsApp product lead Alice Newton-Rex as saying that WhatsApp will soon support keys – a feature that is already in beta testing. Uber and Ebay have also added support for keys, while password management services already have built-in support for keys with the recent rollout of iOS 17 and Android 14 to users.
If you’re not sure whether to switch to Keys right now, Google will let you opt out of the feature for now.You can do this by disabling the “Skip passwords when possible” switch Google account settings. It’s worth remembering that this feature is enabled by default, so if you don’t want to use the key with your Google Account, you’ll have to manually disable it after signing in to your Google Account.
Svlook
