Passwordless passkeys will now be the default for Google accounts

New York
CNN
—

Google is looking to make passwords obsolete by requiring users to create passkeys to unlock accounts and devices using a fingerprint, face scan or PIN.

Google said on Tuesday that passkeys do not require users to memorize passwords, are faster to use and provide more security. Company Exposed support For passkeys in may but announced in a Blog post The technology will now become the default option while creating the password.

“[W]“We will continue to encourage the industry to focus on passkeys — making passwords rare, and ultimately obsolete,” Google wrote.

Google will continue to support traditional passwords, and users can avoid passkeys entirely by disabling the “Skip password when possible” option for their accounts.

Passkeys are now used as password replacements for apps including YouTube, Search, Maps, Uber, and eBay. WhatsApp is also adding the capability, according to the blog.

The FIDO Alliance, a security consortium that includes several technology companies as members, has previously developed standards for passkeys. Microsoft, Apple, and Google have since been working to make passkeys a reality.

Apple introduced its own passkey option with the release of iOS 16, allowing people to use the technology across apps, including Apple Wallet, and passkey support was first rolled out to Chrome and Android devices in October 2022.