Apple, Google and Microsoft are ready for passwordless technology. They announced their support for a system created by the FIDO Alliance and the World Wide Consortium for faster, easier and more secure logins.
Representatives from each company agree with the security threats from using passwords such as phishing, scams, hacking and others. There is also the problem of requiring users to always remember their passwords. This also presents the existence of a two-factor authenticator (2FA).
Experts say the new method will offer an additional level of security by connecting the login directly to the device. Plus, it's easy to implement because the same standard will work across existing device products.
FIDO says that its login process uses public key cryptography, which generates paired public and private keys for local devices and user accounts. While the public key can be sent online and used to interact across various services or devices, the private key and information about local authentication, such as fingerprint data will not be provided.
"Extended standards-based capabilities will give websites and apps the ability to offer end-to-end passwordless options," Apple's press release explains.
"This new approach protects against phishing and logins will be much more secure when compared to old passwords and multi-factor technologies such as one-time passcodes sent via SMS."
To sign in, Google says users only have to perform authentication actions like entering a PIN code to unlock their device, fingerprint or Face ID. Once unlocked, users don't need to log in to other apps or browsers, as the FIDO Alliance uses passkey credentials to do so.
As Google explains, the system is based on public key cryptography and only provides credentials after the device has been unlocked. The pass lock system has the ability to connect to the cloud so that new devices can also be installed under the same account.