Google had been testing a new password-free secure login
feature ‘Passkeys’ since October and launched it earlier this week to its Chrome
Stable M108. Passkeys are a form of unique identity of a user without involving
passwords. They can be stored on computers, phones or even USB security keys.
Chrome users can now access Passkeys within the browser on both desktop and mobile devices that have Windows 11, macOS, or Android installed. Additionally, Android users can sync their Passkeys between their Android device and another device via a password manager directly or with support from a third-party, such as 1Password or Dashlane. Passkeys are designed using public key cryptography, which is what creates the cross-platform feature.
In addition to Google, other big tech companies like Apple
and Microsoft are also integrating the passkey technology in their products. Websites
that use Passkey APIs will allow login with a simple confirmation including
biometrics through a user’s phone or another form of secure authentication.
As more sites integrate API for Passkeys in the future, the technology
will become more useful in Chrome as well as other browsers that might soon
develop their versions of Passkeys.