Passwords, Soon To Be History!

Passwords are a necessary evil in a modern world.  A month does not go by where there is not another announcement of a data breach where thousands of passwords have been stolen.  Many modern browsers will warn you that your passwords have been found in hacked databases and encourage you to change your password. But then it may be too late.

Password manager apps are required to keep track of the myriad number of complex passwords one must remember.  No wonder some people give up and just make up a simple password with the name of their dog or favorite sports team!

There is a better way. Apple is leading the charge starting with the release of the new mac OS called Ventura, on October 24, 2022. Passkeys will be Apple’s new solution that will increase security. Apple is also working with the FIDO Alliance to make sure Passkeys work on non-Apple devices.

So how does it work? Passkeys replace your old passwords by creating new digital keys using Touch ID or Face ID. When you create an online account with a website, you can use a Passkey instead of a password. To create a Passkey, just use Touch ID or Face ID to authenticate, and you’re done.

When you go to log in to that website again, Passkeys allow you to prove who you are by using your biometrics rather than typing in a passphrase. When signing into a website on a Mac, a prompt will appear on your iPhone or iPad to verify your identity. Passkeys will sync across your devices using iCloud’s Keychain, and the Passkeys are stored on your devices rather than on servers, and are end-to-end encrypted so nobody can read them, including Apple. The system for creating Passkeys uses public-private key authentication to prove you are who you say you are.

In the meantime, follow the basic password rules:

1. At least 8 characters with a capital letter, numbers, and symbols. A password phrase of 12 or more characters is recommend.
2. Have a unique password for each website or application
3. Don’t write them down and put them in your desk or on a wall where others can find them.