Image: Google.
If you’ve ever complained about having too many passwords to remember, Google’s new initiative will delight you. In fact, Google hopes you ditch passwords altogether.
As of today, Google is making the “passkey” (access key in French) its preferred connection parameter. Instead of the traditional password, Google account holders are encouraged to create a passkey and start using it now. By default, the “Skip password when possible” option will be enabled in your Google account.
If you’re not ready to give up your old password yet, you can turn off the setting. In this case, you will not be prompted to create an access key.
What is the difference between password and access key?
The passkey is more or less a password, but it uses its own authentication method depending on the device. For example, it can be based on a fingerprint sensor, a PIN code or even facial recognition – like when you unlock your smartphone, in short.
Once created, your access key consists of two parts: one is on the device used to confirm your identity, and the other is stored on the website you wish to access.
Apple and Google already use passkeys widely on their devices, as do most third-party password managers. So it’s not totally new. But this is the first time that a big name in the industry has tried to scrap passwords by offering users the option to use access keys by default.
A faster and safer method
In the blog post announcing this change, Google emphasizes that access keys are 40% faster than passwords, and above all more secure. “Since their launch earlier this year, access keys have been used in applications like YouTube, Google Search or Google Maps. And the results are encouraging. »
The goal, Google says, is to encourage other companies to use access keys and, ultimately, to make passwords obsolete. Of course, this is going to take time, and passwords are going to continue to be a part of our lives for some time. But if you’re tired of trying to remember your login details on random accounts, or if you’re still using the basic password you signed up with to Myspace, this is an encouraging sign for your well-being. be digital.
If you want to use passkeys more, you don’t need to do anything, since Google has enabled this setting by default. If you’d rather stick with the traditional method a little longer and stop Google from continually asking you to change, click on your profile picture then click Manage your Google account. Then go to the menu Security. There you will find settings for passwords and access keys.
Source: ZDNet.com