Hackers regularly rub their hands over our passwords. But there’s a solution for that – a new, simple way to log in without passwords. Apple has revealed a few secrets about Passkeys, and soon other giants will also present their ideas.
Apple has joined forces with Microsoft and Google in the FIDO Alliance to move away from passwords to secure our online accounts. The reason is a desire to increase user security. As it turns out, there is a way to do it! Each manufacturer is expected to release its own program in the coming months, and the one from Apple is expected to arrive in the fall along with iOS 16 and macOS Ventura.
Apple Passkeys is a simple and secure way to log in. It is based on public key cryptography, consisting of a public key stored on network servers and a private security key that will remain on the device you use. That is, in human terms – instead of making up, remembering and then typing our passwords each time, a special key will be stored in the equipment we use, which we will not share with anyone. Instead, the device will confirm that we have it and thus authorize the login.
Since the servers will only store public keys, they will not be as attractive to hackers. The solution will greatly enhance users’ online security, and may even eliminate (or certainly drastically reduce) phishing threats.
The operation is expected to resemble paying with Apple Pay, except that we will only enter a login, and then confirm the data with a fingerprint read (i.e. Touch ID) or face scan (Face ID). It is also likely to be possible to log in with the iPhone to apps and websites also on devices other than those with the bitten apple logo.
Apple Passkeys will be integrated with iOS, macOS, iPadOS and tvOS.
