Passwords may soon become a thing of the past.
In a joint effort to make the web more secure, three tech giants Apple, Google, and Microsoft announced Thursday morning that they have committed to building support for passwordless sign-in across all of the mobile, desktop, and browser.
Apple, Google, and Microsoft plans to expand support for a common passwordless sign-in standard created by the FIDO Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium, according to Apple.
This means that in the not too distant future, passwordless authentication will come to all major device platforms: Android and iOS mobile operating systems; Chrome, Edge, and Safari browsers; and the Windows and macOS desktop environments, as per The Verge report.
How does the Passwordless Sign-in Work?
According to Google, your account won't need a password anymore when you sign into a website or app on your phone, you will simply unlock your phone.
Instead, your phone will store a FIDO credential called a passkey which is used to unlock your online account, Google said. As the passkey is based on public key cryptography and is only shown to your online account when you unlock your phone, it makes signing in far more secure
You'll just need your phone nearby and you'll simply be prompted to unlock it for access to sign into a website on your computer. You can unlock the phone with the default action such as entering a PIN, drawing a pattern, or using fingerprint.
Google explained that once you are logged in using your phone, you can sign in by just unlocking your computer. In case you lose your phone, your passkeys will securely sync to your new phone from cloud backup.
"Working with the industry to establish new, more secure sign-in methods that offer better protection and eliminate the vulnerabilities of passwords is central to our commitment to building products that offer maximum security and a transparent user experience - all with the goal of keeping users' personal information safe," said Kurt Knight, Apple's Senior Director of Platform Product Marketing.
Read Also: PayPal: Passwords Are Dead, Long Live Biometric Security
What are the Benefits of FIDO?
Since authentication relies on biometrics stored on the user's device, rather than a shareable password, by replacing regular passwords the new FIDO standard makes users less susceptible to phishing attacks, according to 9to5mac.
The passwordless sign-in also eliminates the need for authentication codes sent via SMS, which can be spoofed by hackers.
Instead of using a regular password, apps and websites can already let users authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID when it comes to Apple platforms.
According to Google, it is working to make the technology available across Chrome, ChromeOS, and Android products.
Meanwhile, Microsoft said that it will build support across its apps and services.
According to CNET, FIDO is hoping to streamline all the efforts of the three tech giants into a technology standard that apps, websites and device makers can all trust and rely on.
The announcement of support of Apple, Google, and Microsoft, made during World Password Day, is intended to motivate people to do a better job at securing their accounts.
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