Microsoft Abandoning Passwords for Fresh Accounts Due to Security Concerns
Rewritten Article:
Ditching the password woes once and for all, Microsoft is marching towards a passwordless future, making passkeys the default authentication method for new accounts. Say goodbye to password headaches and hello to enhanced security.
Microsoft has been tinkering with passwordless sign-ins for a while now, offering the feature for Windows 11 and Microsoft accounts. By 2024, the company is set to expand passkey support across Windows, Android, and iOS devices. This significant shift might see many cyber scammers' tactics go obsolete.
Passkeys: The Secure, Convenient Alternative
Passkeys aren't just a breeze to use compared to complex passwords and multi-factor authentication (MFA) like SMS codes and authenticator apps - they're also significantly more secure. Here's why:
- Resistance to Phishing and Cyberattacks: Passkeys are cryptographically generated and stored on your device. Since they're encrypted by default, they're virtually immune to phishing and other sneaky cyberattacks. Without access to your device, bad actors can't breach your accounts.
- No Need for Lengthy Password Management: Instead of crafting complicated passwords that you then need to securely store (or remember), device-based passkeys authenticate your logins using biometrics like your face or fingerprint, or credentials like your PIN or password. It's a cinch!
Passkeys: The New Normal for Microsoft Accounts
Newcomers to the Microsoft universe will be welcomed with a passwordless experience, as passkeys become the default authentication method for fresh Microsoft accounts. You'll be prompted to verify your email address using a one-time code, and then set up your passkey using biometrics, a PIN, or a password.
If you're in a hurry, you can skip the passkey setup for later, but Microsoft will ensure your account comes equipped with the "best available" passwordless sign-in method. Existing Microsoft users can manage their passkeys and delete passwords in the Settings app under Accounts > Passkeys. Microsoft intends to phase out password support completely.
Passkeys offer a secure, convenient, and efficient way to authenticate users, effectively addressing many of the limitations and risks associated with traditional passwords. So wave goodbye to the old password hassles and embrace the future with open arms (and fingers, for fingerprint scans!).
- By 2024, Microsoft aims to make passkeys the default authentication method for new accounts across Windows, Android, and iOS devices, signifying a significant shift in technology and possibly rendering many cyber scammers' tactics obsolete in the field of data-and-cloud-computing.
- Unlike complex passwords or multi-factor authentication (MFA) like SMS codes and authenticator apps, passkeys, which are cryptographically generated and stored on your device, offer improved security due to their resistance to phishing and cyberattacks.
- Passkeys are not only a breeze to use but also reduces the need for lengthy password management because device-based passkeys authenticate logins using biometrics, your face or fingerprint, or credentials like your PIN or password.
- In the realm of cybersecurity, Microsoft is set to make passkeys the default authentication method for new Microsoft accounts, a move away from traditional password-based login systems, offering a passwordless experience.
- As Microsoft moves towards a passwordless future, users can manage their passkeys, including deleting passwords, in the Settings app under Accounts > Passkeys, with the company's intention to phase out password support completely.
