In order to make biometric authentication for websites and apps more secure, Microsoft is expanding passkey support in Windows 11.
Passkeys are unique codes that are connected to particular gadgets like smartphones, tablets, and computers. Because phishing attacks cannot steal passkeys and gain unauthorized access, using passkeys significantly lowers the risk of data breaches.
Passkeys are a safer and more convenient alternative to passwords because they enable biometric authentication, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, or personal identification numbers (PINs), to log in to websites and applications.
This improves user experience and security by eliminating the need to remember and manage multiple passwords.
Microsoft revealed that the passwordless improvements in the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23486 release that were pushed to the Dev Channel enable customers to sign into their accounts using passkeys and Windows Hello.
“For Windows users, we are making the passkey experience better. Microsoft’s Amanda Langowski and Brandon LeBlanc stated, “They can now go to any app or website that supports passkeys to create and sign in using passkeys with the Windows Hello native experience.”
“Users can sign in with Windows Hello (face, fingerprint, or PIN) after creating a passkey. In addition, users can finish the application logon process using their phones.”
You must go to passkey-enabled websites like bestbuy.com, ebay.com, or google.com, create a passkey by accessing your account settings, sign out of your account, and then sign back in using your newly created passkey in order to use passkeys for website sign-ins on your Windows device.
By going to Settings > Accounts > Passkeys, you can also use a new passkey management dialog that has been integrated into the Windows settings to manage your passkeys.
You will see all passkeys saved money on the Windows gadget, and you can look for and erase the ones you never again use.
BleepingComputer was able to log in with Best Buy and Microsoft accounts using Windows 11 passkeys while testing the feature.
However, despite the fact that Google permitted the creation of a passkey, we were never prompted to use a passkey when attempting to sign into a Google account.
Google announced in May that all of its services and platforms would soon support passkeys for Google Accounts, allowing users to sign in without entering a password or using 2-Step Verification (2SV).
In May 2022, Microsoft and Apple likewise affirmed their obligation to passkeys, supporting Web Validation (WebAuthn) accreditations (otherwise known as FIDO certifications).
This has now turned into the standard methodology for getting to accounts without requiring conventional passwords across stages constrained by the three tech goliaths.
According to Langowski and LeBlanc, “Passkeys will enable you to replace passwords when you sign into a web site or application that supports them.”
“Bad actors will have a much harder time stealing and using your credentials when signing into a website or application in the future thanks to passkeys.” Passkeys are faster for users, recoverable, and resistant to phishing.”
