- Google launches passkeys for Chrome.
- The new passkeys feature is available with the Chrome Stable M108.
- Passkeys are better than passwords as it eliminates the need to remember passwords.
Google has introduced passkeys for Chrome users. Google integrated the password-less secure login process into Chrome Stable M108 after a testing stage that began in October. The new passkey feature will work on both desktop and mobile Windows 11, macOS, and Android devices. Furthermore, Google allows users to sync their security key from Android to other devices while using Chrome, either through its password manager or any supported third-party apps.
Passkeys is a one-of-a-kind digital identity that can be stored in your devices, such as your computer, phone, or other devices such as a USB security key, to aid in easy and secure access. The passkeys enable users to log in to websites or applications quickly and easily using the device’s biometrics or other secure verification.
“On a desktop device, you can also choose to use a passkey from your nearby mobile device and, since passkeys are built on industry standards, you can use either an Android or iOS device. A passkey doesn’t leave your mobile device when signing in like this. Only a securely generated code is exchanged with the site so, unlike a password, there’s nothing that could be leaked,” explained Google in its blog post.
“On Chrome on Android, passkeys are stored in the Google Password Manager, which synchronizes passkeys between the user’s Android devices that are signed into the same Google account,”the blogpost further noted.
Passkeys are said to be superior to passwords because they allow users to sign in to apps and websites using a biometric sensor (such as a fingerprint or facial recognition), PIN, or pattern, removing the hassle of remembering or managing passwords. Furthermore, if the passkeys are set using biometrics, the chances of passwords being leaked are reduced, making the new technology safer. Unlike SMS or app-based one-time passwords, it provides strong protection against phishing attacks.
How will passkeys work on Google Chrome
When a user signs into a Google account, the device or website, like passwords, will ask for the passkey. Users will simply have to use their fingerprint or saved passkeys to authenticate the login. Users will be able to complete the login process by unlocking the device’s screen.
Notably, the concept of passkeys is not new, as many companies, such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, PayPal, and eBay, are replacing passwords with passkeys to provide password-free sign-in processes on websites or apps that are both more efficient and safer. Furthermore, as this technology is adopted by major tech companies such as Apple and Google, the use of passkeys is said to become device-agnostic.
