Google rolls out Passkeys: The Future of Secure Sign-In

May 4, 2023

On May 4, 2023, Google announced a major new security feature for its services: Passkeys. With this new technology, users can log in to their Google accounts without using a password, using their device’s biometrics or PIN for authentication. Google is encouraging other developers to adopt passkeys as the future of secure sign-in.

What are Passkeys and how do they work?

Passkeys are a new way to authenticate yourself when logging in to your Google account. When you set up Passkeys, a unique pair of cryptographic keys (a private key and a public key) is generated for your account. The private key stays on your device for security, while the public key is uploaded to Google’s servers.

When you want to log in to your Google account, your device uses the private key to verify your identity, allowing for a passwordless sign-in experience. This means that you don’t have to remember a password or worry about someone stealing it.
Using Passkeys for authentication offers higher security because the private key is stored on your device and never leaves it. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to steal your login information.

How to set up Passkeys for your Google account?

To set up Passkeys for your Google account, you need to have an Android device running Android 12 or higher. You can set up Passkeys by going to the Google Account Settings, selecting “Security,” and then choosing “Passkeys.”
Once you’ve set up Passkeys, you can use your device’s biometrics (such as your fingerprint or face recognition) or a PIN to log in to your Google account. You can also use Passkeys to sign in to other Google services, such as Google Drive, Gmail, and YouTube.

Why are Passkeys the future of secure sign-in?

Passkeys are the future of secure sign-in because they offer a much higher level of security than traditional passwords. Passwords are often weak and easy to guess, and many people use the same password for multiple accounts, making it easy for hackers to steal login information.
Passkeys, on the other hand, are unique to each user and are stored securely on their device. This makes them more difficult to steal by unauthorized users like hackers.

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