What are passkeys and will they replace passwords?

Passkeys are the latest technology for enabling you to access your accounts securely. As they are introduced across an increasing number of applications and devices, there will no longer be a need to remember or record lots of passwords.

So, what is a passkey? In simple terms it is a digital credential that allows you to log into applications or websites without entering a password. It is actually a pair of cryptography keys (a public key and a private key) which are generated by your device.

Apps or websites store your unique public key, while the private key stays on your device. You can then sign in with facial recognition, or a fingerprint or PIN. This makes a passkey much easier to use than a password, as there is no need to remember or look up a password.

A passkey is more secure than a password as it is complex and not readable to humans. When it comes to phishing attempts, users can’t give passkey details away because they don’t know them!

How and where can I use passkeys?

  • Firstly you need to have a compatible device. Some older PCs, laptops and phones may not be, but most modern devices will be ready for passkeys.
  • Secondly, make sure you’re using an up to date version of your web browser. Edge, Chrome, Safari and Firefox all support passkeys.
  • Thirdly, the application or website that you’re using will need to support the use of passkeys. Providing it does, you’ll be prompted to set your account up with an Authenticator. Once you have done that and enabled the use of face recognition or fingerprint etc, you won’t need a password again.

As more and more sites move to supporting passkeys, it seems inevitable that they will eventually mean passwords become a thing of the past!