Google's New Passkey System: Is It Safer Than Passwords?

Google has rolled out its new security feature that incorporates passkeys instead of passwords
The new system claims to be an easier and safer alternative to the current structure
Passkeys would require users to authenticate themselves using a face recognition system or fingerprint scanner

Tech giant Google has rolled out its new passkey system, which claims to be easier and safer for users than the traditional password structure.

The new security feature will be on all of Google's devices and platforms. It will allow users to authenticate their identity using a face identification system or fingerprint scanner. The alternative claims to be capable of preventing an individual's login information from being stolen and protecting their privacy from scammers.

Google's New Passkey Security Feature

The main difference between passkeys and passwords is that the latter combines letters, numbers, and symbols used to log into an account. The main issue is that hackers have found ways to steal this information and gain access to other people's accounts, as per Fox News.

To address this issue, companies utilized two-step verification that adds an extra layer of security, but this feature is only sometimes foolproof to protect users from hackers. Passkeys aim to remove this problem by removing the need for complicated passwords or two-step verification.

Google's new security feature allows users to sign in to apps and websites using a biometric sensor, such as a fingerprint or facial recognition, PIN, or pattern. This frees people from having to memorize and manage their passwords. Passkeys are also linked to all a user's devices that have been added to their Google account.

The new system addresses two major issues that stem from passwords, phishing, and data breaches. Using passkeys is much more secure than using passwords thanks to not being reused across multiple sites, removing the risk of a person's credentials being stolen.

An Easier and Safer Alternative to Passwords

In a Google blog, the company's product managers said that rolling out the new passkey system does not mean the password structure will be removed altogether. According to USA Today, they described passwords as being frustrating to remember and becoming threatening once they end up in the wrong hands.

The new passkey system can only exist on users' devices, which means that Google account holders have to set up their new security feature for their accounts by logging in to g.co/passkeys and following the tech giant's instructions.

If a person has an Android phone already signed into their Google account, they could already be automatically registered for a passkey. This would then allow the device to be listed under the "Automatically created passkeys" section and users can click the blue "Use passkeys" button.

If a user accidentally loses a device equipped with a passkey, they can remove it from their list of passkeys if it was one they created themselves. On the other hand, if Google was the one that made the passkey, the device itself has to be removed from the account to keep it safe, said The Verge.