Google has introduced "passkeys" as a solution to replace traditional passwords in its online services. Companies like Apple, Microsoft, eBay, Uber, and soon WhatsApp have also adopted this technology in recent months.
"Passkeys" represent a new way to access online accounts, eliminating classic passwords that have security vulnerabilities. When signing into a Google account, the user will be required to create and use an access key instead of the usual combination of email and password.
Christian Brand, head of identity and security at Google, explained that passkeys use cryptographic keys stored on devices, as well as biometric access and unlock patterns, which reduces the risks of cyber attacks such as identity theft and phishing.
Although Google has not yet provided specific data on the adoption of passkeys, they indicated that users are using them on popular platforms like YouTube and Google Maps. The company has expressed its excitement about the positive user response to this security change.
Google aims to make passwords less common and eventually obsolete, enabling the option to "skip the password when possible" by default. The transition to passkeys may take time, considering that classic passwords have been used for decades worldwide.
It is important to note that if the user prefers to keep their traditional password, they have the option to disable passkeys on their account. Google's proposal seeks to provide a higher level of security in online interactions, betting on a more advanced system that is less vulnerable to cyber attacks.
