Google introduces support for Passkeys: a more secure and convenient way to sign in

Google has recently announced support for Passkeys, a new and more secure way to sign in to apps and websites. Passkeys are an additional option to traditional passwords and 2-Step Verification, and can be set up easily by visiting http://g.co/passkeys. The best part about Passkeys is that they allow users to sign in the same way they unlock their devices: with a fingerprint, a face scan, or a screen lock PIN.

Passkeys are resistant to online attacks like phishing, making them a safer option than traditional passwords and SMS one-time codes. As we mentioned in our article "Could 2023 be the last year for traditional passwords?" a few months ago, Google has been working with FIDO Alliance, Apple, and Microsoft to develop and support Passkeys as a passwordless sign-in experience. Services like Docusign, Kayak, PayPal, Shopify, and Yahoo! Japan have already deployed Passkeys to streamline sign-in for their users.

Passkeys for Google Accounts will soon be available for Google Workspace accounts, with the option to enable Passkeys for end-users during sign-in. However, passwords and 2-Step Verification will still be available for Google Accounts for the time being. The rollout of Passkeys marks a significant shift towards a more secure and convenient sign-in experience, as Google and other big tech players in the industry take this next leap. It’s evident that Passkeys are a major step towards a passwordless future, and we can expect more companies to follow Google’s lead in the near future, after all, as we talked about a couple months ago, 2023 will possibly be the year when we see a significantly high adoption in the use of passwordless tools, and therefore, the death of traditional passwords.