Microsoft’s new accounts will use access keys by defaultaccording to Redmond’s firm. This method of authentication, safer than the typical passwords, will help prevent attacks such as phishing, gross strength and theft of credentials.
The access keys (Passkeys) are the most interesting alternative to the use of passwords and a year after Microsoft announced the compatibility for client accounts, the software giant takes another step in its implementation. All the great service providers have confirmed their commitment to this security function in the future without passwords and the announcement of Microsoft the same day that World password is celebrated, it will boost it even more and hopefully hopefully.
Default access keys
«As part of this simplified user experience, we are changing the default behavior of new accounts. Microsoft’s new accounts now They will not need a predetermined password«they explain from Microsoft.
New users will have several options to log in without password and will never need to register one. Once they have logged in, they will be asked to register an access key for authentication. Existing users can also change it, editing the configuration of their account to eliminate their password.
“This simplified experience allows you to log in faster and, in our experiments, has reduced the use of passwords by more than 20%”they say. «As more people register access key, the number of password authentications will continue to decrease until Finally we can completely eliminate password compatibility«.
Microsoft is a member of the Fido Alliance Board of Directors, an open industrial association that promotes access keys as a login method without password. The use of access keys significantly reduces the risk of data violations, since they provide protection against phishing attacks avoiding unauthorized robberies and accesses.
They work with unique codes (webauthn authentication credentials also known as FIDA credentials) linked to specific devices, such as computers, tablets or smartphones. Another of its advantages is that difference from passwords that are stored on servers (and therefore can be pirate or intercepted), The access keys are safer because they are stored locally on the devices.
Although all great technology are promoting the use of access keys, Microsoft is one of the most advanced. He implemented support for authentication with access code for personal accounts a year ago, after adding an integrated access key for Windows Hello with the update of functions in Windows 11 22h2. More recently, he began testing updates of the Webauthn API to add support for the use of third -party access keys for authentication without Windows 11 password.
