May 8, 2023

Google has stated that its account holders may now log in using passkeys rather than passwords.

This new security feature might indicate that the computer sector is shifting away from passwords as the most prevalent way to sign in. Passkeys are unique identifiers stored on your device that are cryptographic private keys.

Passkeys can be biometric, such as fingerprint or face recognition, or they might be PIN-based. They take the place of passwords and two-factor authentication and enable Google to certify identification without disclosing it internally. When users add a passkey to their account, Google will prompt them for it when they sign in or do specified operations. The local device will conduct screen lock biometrics or prompt you for your PIN, ensuring that your passkey information is never shared with Google.

Since passkeys are connected with devices rather than accounts, Google Account holders can have various passkeys for different devices or share them if such sharing is built in. They also adhere to the Fast Identity Online Alliance and the W3C WebAuthn working group standards.

Passwords will still be accepted by Google Account holders if they prefer them or if their device does not support biometrics or passkeys. They will, however, have the option of using a passkey to sign in.

The sources for this piece include an article in TechRepublic.