Passwords. Who doesn't know her? And who doesn't hate having to remember dozens of them? Weak, insecure and annoying, this is how the digital life can be summed up well with passwords.
But don't worry, there's a new hero on the horizon: the Passkey!
When you use Passkeys, you're not only making your online life easier, you're also making it much safer. No more insecure passwords that can be easily cracked. With Passkeys, you sign up for your favorite websites and services super quickly and securely.
Why Passkeys are so awesome and how to use them best, we'll explain to you here.
What is a Passkey?
Imagine that your smartphone or laptop is the key to your online accounts. A passkey is a unique cryptographic key that is only stored on your device. It is protected by biometric features such as your fingerprint or facial recognition.
You don't have to remember complicated passwords anymore. You simply log in with your finger or face, similar to unlocking your phone. This is not only more convenient, but also much safer, because the passkeys can not be phished or stolen.
How to Create Your First Passkey
Passkeys are increasingly becoming the new standard sign-in method, and many websites are already integrating them. To create a passkey, there are several ways that often work best when you use it in your normal online life.
1. When registering: The perfect time to set up a passkey is when you're signing up anyway. You enter your password as normal, and after logging in, the website asks you if you don't want to create a passkey instead. Confirm this and your passkey is ready for the next registration.
2. In the security settings: Many services now offer their own section in the Account settings where you can manage your passkeys. Here you can add new passkeys, delete old ones or check the linked devices.
3. After account recovery: If you have forgotten your password and need to restore your account, this is a great opportunity to create a passkey immediately afterwards. So you are well prepared for the future and never have to worry about forgotten passwords again.
Once created, always used: How to log in with Passkeys
Signing up with Passkeys is a breeze. There are two main ways you can sign up:
- Directly with the Passkey dialog: If a website supports Passkeys, you will be offered directly on the login page of the Passkey login. You don't even have to enter your username anymore. One click is enough, and the dialog for your fingerprint or face opens. It can't be easier and faster!
- With username and passkey: Some websites will let you type in your username first before the passkey dialog appears. This is still faster and more secure than entering a password.
Tip: If you see many different login options (password, social logins, passkey), always choose the passkey. It is the fastest and safest option.
Manage your passkeys
Unlike passwords, of which you should only have one, you can have multiple passkeys for one account, such as one for your smartphone, one for your laptop, and one for your tablet PC.
- Delete, do not change: If you no longer need a passkey, it will not be ‘changed’, but simply ‘deleted’. That makes sense because there may be several of them. The website simply removes the public part of your passkey, and you can no longer use it.
- Know where the passkey comes from: In your account settings, you should always see where your passkeys come from (e.g. Google Password Manager, iCloud Keychain or Windows Hello). This will help you keep track.
- Always have a fallback: What if you lose your phone? Don't worry. Passkey services should always provide a means of recovery, such as logging in with a verified email address or phone number.
conclusion
Passkeys are the future of online security. They not only make your digital life safer, but also incredibly more convenient. The days of complicated passwords and tedious logins are over.
Have you tried Passkeys? If not, keep your eyes open, because more and more services rely on this great technology!
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