Microsoft and Google embrace passcodes for improved security and user experience

Updated May 3, 2024 11:08 IST

This step is intended to streamline the login process for users, eliminating the need to remember and enter a password every time they log in.

Microsoft recently announced the introduction of password support for all consumer accounts, allowing users to access their Microsoft accounts using their face, fingerprint, or device PIN in Windows. Googlingand Apple platforms.

This step is intended to streamline the login process for users, eliminating the need to remember and enter a password every time they log in. Instead, users can simply use their password for quick and easy access to Microsoft services.

According to Microsoft, passkeys provide enhanced security compared to traditional passwords, providing better protection against malicious attacks. Creating a Microsoft account access key is a simple process. Users can navigate to a designated link and choose from options such as face, fingerprint, PIN or security key. They then follow the on-screen instructions to set up their access key.

To log into a Microsoft account with a passkey, users must select the “Sign-in Options” and choose their preferred authentication method, whether face, fingerprint, PIN, or security key. Once selected, the device will prompt users to use their password to complete the login process.

Currently, passkeys can be used to sign in to several Microsoft apps and websites, including Microsoft 365 and Copilot, via desktop and mobile browsers. Support for signing in to mobile versions of Microsoft applications using access keys will be introduced in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Google has also made progress in the area of password keys. Since Passkeys launched in 2022, they have been used to authenticate users more than 1 billion times across more than 400 million Google accounts. Passwords are praised for their ease of use and resistance to phishing attempts, as they rely solely on factors such as fingerprints, facial scans or PIN codes, making them 50% faster than traditional passwords.

Passkeys have become the preferred method of authentication for Google Accounts, surpassing older forms of two-step verification (2SV) such as SMS one-time passwords (OTPs) and app-based OTPs (such as Authenticator apps) combined. This underlines the increasing adoption and effectiveness of passkeys in improving both security and user experience.

This step is intended to streamline the login process for users, eliminating the need to remember and enter a password every time they log in.

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