How You Can Say Goodbye to Passwords Forever - Unlock the Power of Passkeys!

Are Passwords Going the Way of the Dinosaur?

Don't you just love creating passwords? It’s easy and fun to craft and remember unique 12-20 character passwords across dozens of logins online, right? – WRONG! We all dread the tedious process of password creation and the inevitable frustration when we forget them. And let's not even get started on the nightmare of performing a password reset! Wouldn't it be fantastic if passwords were a thing of the past? Well, welcome to the future! In this post we are excited to introduce you to the passkey – a concept which has the potential to make passwords extinct! Read on for the details. 

The Weakness of Passwords

What’s Wrong with Passwords?

We’ve been using passwords for a long time so it might be hard to imagine another option. But wouldn’t you agree that passwords have a lot of downsides? Just for the sake of convenience many people resort to using simple, easily guessable passwords or the same password across multiple sites. This makes us prime targets for cybercriminals. According to a 2023 report by Verizon, 81% of hacking-related breaches involved weak or stolen passwords.

Password Management Woes

Even when we understand the risks and limitations of passwords it’s easy to fall into bad habits. After all, with each new account, we’re expected to create and remember complex combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols. There is a strong temptation to resort to risky behavior, such as writing passwords down or using easily memorable (and hackable) passwords.

Password Managers such as Keeper, DashLane, or 1Password can really help, but many computer users shy away from them due to:

• Trust Issues: Fear of storing passwords in one place, fear of hacking (as happened with LastPass).
• Learning Curve: Initial setup and practical usage requires learning new skills.
• Overconfidence: The belief that what they are already doing is secure enough.
• Cost: Full-featured password managers generally require a monthly subscription.
• Lack of Knowledge: People may not know what a password manager is, or how they work.

The fact is that passwords continue to be a persistent, overall security vulnerability. 

"...81% of hacking-related breaches involved weak or stolen passwords"

Explaining Passkeys

This brings us to the main topic of this discussion – Passkeys! 

What Are Passkeys?

Passkeys represent a quantum leap in digital security. Unlike traditional passwords, passkeys involve a cryptographic pair of keys – one public and one private. This system ensures a much higher level of security and convenience.

How Private and Public Keys Work

Think of passkeys like a lock and key system but on steroids. When you sign up for a service using passkeys, a unique pair of cryptographic keys is generated. The public key is stored with the company where you created your account, while the private key remains securely on your device – no one else in the world has or can have that key.

When you attempt to log in to a site or application, it verifies your identity by presenting a “challenge” using the previously stored public key. No one can answer that challenge but you, using your device and the private key stored therein. To access the private key, you’ll need to prove your identity biometrically (fingerprint or face ID). Your private key is then verified against the public key, the challenge is passed, and access is granted – no password required! This process ensures that your private key never leaves your device, making it nearly impossible for hackers to intercept.

Let’s envision it this way: You get a safety deposit box at your bank. Inside the box you keep valuable items. When you applied for the box, a unique and unpickable lock was created just for you, and you were given the only key – a key linked to your DNA. So, you hold the key and only you can make the key work. That would be amazingly secure!

The unique lock is like the public key – it can be accessed or viewed by others just as anyone in the bank vault could see the lock on your safety deposit box. But the private key is like the unique key you were given – it is the only key in the world that opens the lock. Your private key is stored on your device and only your fingerprint or facial ID can access it, just like the key linked to your DNA.

The Benefits of Passkeys vs. Passwords

Enhanced Security

Passkeys eliminate many of the vulnerabilities associated with passwords. Since the private key never leaves your device there's nothing for hackers to steal if the company holding your account has a data breach. In the event of a phishing email or other scam, the target can’t be compelled or tricked into giving out his private key since it is not something he knows or that can be shared (unlike a password). This effectively mitigates the risk of a whole host of cyber security issues.

Simplicity and Convenience

Using passkeys is a breeze compared to managing passwords. Imagine logging into your accounts with a simple fingerprint scan on your phone or a glance at your device’s camera. No more typing complex strings of characters or resetting forgotten passwords. Passkeys streamline the login process, enhancing the user experience significantly.

Are Passkeys Accepted by Major Companies?

Google and Apple are leading the charge in implementing passkey authentication. In an article published in May 2024 Google indicated that in less than a year passkeys had been used for over a billion authentications of over 400 million Google accounts.  Meanwhile Apple’s integration of passkeys in iOS and macOS has been praised for its seamless user experience and robust security features. 

Is There a Downside to Passkeys?

More and more major companies have implemented passkeys as a full password alternative. They include players like Adobe, Amazon, Microsoft, Paypal, Uber, Nvidia and many others. While the list of adopters is growing consistently, at the moment not all websites support them. Until they do, you’ll still need to exercise good password practices (strong, unique passwords) for many accounts and logins.

Another caveat to remember is that the passkeys are tied to the devices they were generated on. This means you need the device to log in. This could make things complicated at times. For example, if you generated a passkey on your Windows PC but later you want to log in to that account using your tablet or phone you would need to have your PC with you to be able to log in. Of course, if you store the passkeys on your mobile device at the outset instead of your home PC this should not present much of an issue. Additionally, when you change phones your passkeys can be moved over to your new device with minimal difficulty.

The Big Takeaway

It’s not a dream… there is a future where passwords have gone the way of the dinosaur! You don’t have to wait to begin benefitting from the increased security and ease-of-use that passkeys offer. In the coming days and months, you may be invited to upgrade the security of some of your most important accounts using passkey technology. Don’t be afraid to try it out even if there is a bit of a learning curve as you set up the service. Leaving the familiarity of the password behind is a big step forward in your overall cybersecurity. Remember the key benefits:

• Superior security.
• Convenience.
• Protection from phishing attacks.
• No password to be stolen in a data breach.
• No need to dream up or remember a complicated password.

It's time to take your business’s digital security to the next level. Don't wait until you become a statistic in the next cybersecurity breach report. Implement passkey authentication today and experience the future of secure, hassle-free login. Contact us to learn more about how allCare IT can help you assess and strengthen your company’s cyber security measures.