In the ever-changing landscape of digital security, where 89% of organizations have fallen victim to phishing attacks in the past year alone, the search for a more secure, user-friendly, and efficient authentication method never ends. Traditional passwords, though commonly used, have their shortcomings. They can be difficult to remember, especially when managing multiple accounts, and they are susceptible to cyberattacks. So what can be the solution?
Passkey!
What are Passkeys?
Passkeys are a revolutionary approach to online authentication that allows you to sign in to online accounts without entering a password. They leverage an API called WebAuthn, which uses a pair of public and private keys to authenticate users.
When passkeys are implemented correctly, the sign-in process becomes seamless. There’s no need to type anything out, no need to enter a two-factor authentication code, and no need to worry about falling victim to a scam website.
So, Here’s How Passkeys Impact…
- User Experience:
Users will get a steady and familiar experience across all their devices. Just like unlocking their device daily, they only need a quick check of their face, fingerprint, or device PIN.
- Security:
Passkeys use FIDO Authentication, known for being tough against phishing and remote attacks.
- Scalability:
The passkeys are always accessible to the users, even if their devices are replaced. When your passkeys are synced, they are available across devices even when you switch devices.
How Do You Use Passkeys?
When you create an account and choose to secure it with a passkey, a unique passkey is generated for that specific website. This passkey includes a pair of public and private keys and is created locally on your device. The public key gets transmitted to the server of the website for safekeeping, while the private key stays securely maintained in your authenticator.
The next time you sign in, the website will create a “challenge,” akin to a unique digital fingerprint. Your authenticator will “sign” the challenge using your private key, then send the completed “signature” back to the website. The website then uses your public key to verify the signature’s authenticity, and voila, you’re signed in!
This means passkeys are:
- Easy to use:
Creating and using passkeys is as simple as agreeing to save and use them, without the need to create passwords.
- Unique for each service:
Passkeys are intentionally unique for each website and service, preventing any chance of reusing them.
- Secure against breaches:
Passkeys are stored on the user’s devices and their trusted cloud, while the servers of websites store public keys.
So in the event of a security breach on a website’s servers, the most a cybercriminal could potentially access is your public key. However, this public key alone is not sufficient to gain access to your account, and it cannot be manipulated to disclose your private key.
Key Reasons To Start Using Passkeys: A Summary
Passkeys offer several compelling advantages over traditional passwords, as we saw earlier.
Here’s a summary of all the key benefits passkeys come with:
- Just Tap and Go: Creating and using passkeys is hassle-free – just consent to save and utilize them, eliminating the need for input something as with passwords.
- Private Key is truly private: Your private key is never shared with the website you’re signing in to, eliminating the risk of it being compromised.
- Breach-resistant: Your public key can’t be reverse-engineered to reveal your private key. Even if a cybercriminal breaches a website’s servers, they can’t use your public key to sign in to your account.
- Strong and unique: Every passkey is inherently strong and unique for each website account. There’s no need to worry about creating a long or random enough key; your device does it for you.
- Defenses against Phishing and Social Engineering: Passkeys offer robust protection against phishing and social engineering attacks. WebAuthn ensures that you never use your credentials with untrusted websites
Enpass and Passkeys: A Robust Combination
At Enpass, we’re excited about the potential of passkeys and are committed to integrating this technology into our password manager.
This means you’ll be able to manage and protect everything that’s important in your digital life, including passkeys, passwords, credit and debit cards, addresses, medical records, software license keys, documents, secure notes, and more, all in one place.
Passkeys represent a significant step forward in passwordless authentication. They simplify the sign-in process, making it easy to use your existing devices for authentication rather than needing a separate hardware security key.
With Enpass, you can embrace the future of authentication and secure your digital life with unprecedented simplicity and convenience. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to innovate and enhance your experience with Enpass.