Tech Titans Apple, Google and Microsoft Aiming for a “Passwordless World”

Global tech giants such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft have announced their joint cooperation in aiming to replace the use of passwords with a more secure way of accessing one’s devices and accounts.

Microsoft vice president Alex Simons states, “The complete shift to a passwordless world will begin with consumers making it a natural part of their lives,” The companies are pushing for a common sign-in standard for users accessing their mobile devices by biometrics such as fingerprint identification or face recognition.

Opting for these secure keys instead of the usual passwords could prevent phishing schemes and scams that trick users into divulging sensitive log-in credentials that enable hackers to steal their data. Reliance on just passwords has also been claimed as a major security flaw in the online space, especially when users create overly simple passwords or use the same one for all Internet accounts.

Upon adhering to the FIDO Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium’s standards, device makers and websites can build more secure passwordless options, as stated by the tech companies’ release. US cybersecurity and infrastructure security agency director Jen Easterly says, “Today is an important milestone in the security journey to encourage built-in security best practices and help us move beyond passwords,”

Android and Chrome software will be incorporating password-free log-ins in the coming year, according to Google product manager and FIDO Alliance president Sampath Srinivas. “This will simplify sign-ins across devices, websites, and applications no matter the platform – without the need for a single password,” Srinivas says in a blog post. Microsoft and Apple have also announced that they will be following suit with their software.

Srinivas also states that mobile phones will have to store a FIDO credential “passkey” to unlock online accounts. The companies aim for a passwordless process where a user can sign into a website or app with their phone nearby when it is prompted to be unlocked for access.

Source: ABS CBN News