The tech giant Google has made public its plans to incorporate passkey support, promising a more user-friendly and secure way of logging into Google accounts. This technology was previously integrated into iOS with the introduction of iOS 16 and is also compatible with iPadOS 16.1 and later, as well as macOS Ventura.
The passkey technology is an industry standard devised by the FIDO Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium. Consequently, Google’s adoption of passkeys will function on devices that support this feature, including those from a certain fruit-named tech company, and others.
In the words of Google: “Last year – alongside FIDO Alliance, Apple and Microsoft – we announced we would begin work to support passkeys on our platform as an easier and more secure alternative to passwords. And today [May 3 2023], ahead of World Password Today, we’ve begun rolling out support for passkeys across Google Accounts on all major platforms. They’ll be an additional option that people can use to sign in, alongside passwords, 2-Step Verification (2SV), etc.”
The search titan added: “So maybe by next year’s World Password Day, you won’t even need to use your password, much less remember it!”
Passkeys provide an enhanced level of security and user-friendliness compared to traditional passwords, permitting users to log into apps and sites in the same manner they unlock their devices: using a fingerprint, face scan, or screen lock PIN. They also offer resilience against online threats such as phishing, positioning them as a more secure option compared to SMS one-time codes.
To set up a passkey, users need to log into their Google account and select the “Create a passkey” option. For security reasons, passkeys on iOS and Mac devices are synchronized with iCloud Keychain, and logins are verified with Face ID or Touch ID. This safeguards against losing access to your account in the event of misplacing your device, and facilitates the transition from one device to another.
The transition to passkeys will be a gradual process, according to Google, which is why conventional passwords and two-step verification will remain functional for Google Accounts.
Google joins the ranks of various companies that have recently adopted passkey support, including PayPal, Best Buy, eBay, Dashlane, and Kayak.