Big tech companies are actively rolling out "Passkeys" — the next-generation replacement for the password. Amazon rolled out support to users recently, and others are on the way.
Apple and Google have been leading the charge with Passkeys through their accounts and mobile operating systems, allowing users to effectively replace the traditional password with a cryptographic key. No longer needing to rely upon that relatively insecure means of login, users can now authenticate with their mobile device's Face ID or fingerprint. Within the next few years, I expect most mainstream apps and services will adopt this infrastructure.
How to Get Started with Passkeys
- Log into the account you would like to add a Passkey to — Amazon, for example.
- Navigate to the account security section.
- Select "Passkey" or "Add a Passkey."
- When you click "Add," it will trigger an automated process to sync a key with your existing password manager or device. Personally, I use 1Password, so as soon as I click, it triggers 1Password to create my Passkey and pair it with my existing credentials. If you don't have a password manager, it will try to pair with your Apple Keychain or Google Password Manager depending on your device.
How to Use a Passkey to Log In
When you are logged out of a website where you have an existing Passkey, you can essentially just tap your way through the login without typing anything. The device's password manager will recognize the site, autofill the username and key, and complete the login automatically.
Outlook
In the not-so-distant future, Passkeys will be available not just from the biggest services from big tech, but from just about every app and website you visit. The days of remembering passwords — or worse, reusing the same weak ones — are genuinely numbered. Start enabling Passkeys on your most important accounts today and get ahead of the curve.
