Understanding Passkeys: A New Way of Logging In

Passkeys, a new way of logging in, gained significant attention in 2023. This innovative technology allows users to log in without the need for a password. Instead, it creates a digital authentication credential, or a “key,” between a user’s device and the login destination to verify their identity. In practice, this usually involves a fingerprint or face scan to prove it’s the user. The rest of the process occurs on the cryptographic backend.

The adoption of passkeys skyrocketed in 2023, with support going from a handful of sites with no users to hundreds of sites with billions of accounts that could potentially log in using passkeys. According to Andrew Shikiar, executive director of the FIDO Alliance, one of the organizations driving passkey adoption, this shift has brought greater security to the login process.

Despite the potential benefits, the end-user adoption of passkeys has been slow. Companies like password manager Bitwarden declined to share specific figures about adoption, while Dashlane’s chief product officer Donald Hasson reported about 20,000 passkey-based sign-ins per month, with growth doubling quarter over quarter. Travel company Kayak switched completely over to passkeys at the end of last year, but it’s still unclear how many users have made the switch.

Security analyst and consultant Cole Grolmus attempted to change as many logins as possible from passwords to passkeys but encountered numerous roadblocks. Out of the 374 apps he uses, only 17 supported passkeys. Despite the challenges, Grolmus remains optimistic about the potential of passkeys and believes that once people experience the “wonderful experience,” they will make the switch.

Passkeys could mark a significant shift in personal security if given enough time to be adopted. While it may take time for consumers to fully embrace this new technology, it offers a smoother login experience compared to the additional security hurdles introduced by multifactor authentication. If you have the opportunity to switch to passkeys, it’s worth considering, especially if you use services like PayPal, Shopify, Uber, or Roblox. However, keep in mind that most services may not have the option yet.