Google has announced that it has finally added passkey support for its accounts, allowing users to make use of additional ways of logging in without having to use a password. Part of a large push by major companies (Google, Microsoft, Apple, and others) to move away from passwords and toward potentially safer alternatives.
This means that users will be able to use biometrics (fingerprint scanners), facial recognition methods (ie, Windows Hello, or Apple’s Face ID, etc), or screen lock pins (since it’s the action of unlocking with the pin on a specific device and not just knowing the pin in general).
You will also be able to make use of hardware security keys like a YubiKey (read out review here) as a pass key solution. These are tangible keys that confirm themselves either through USB connectivity (inserting them into the device awaiting confirmation) or tapping them to your device through NFC (mobile devices). Some even support biometrics as an additional layer of security (ie, USB + biometric).
These pass keys can also be used as a MFA solution (multi-factor authentication), giving you multiple layers of security before being able to properly log into your account. Perfect for those really looking to keep things locked down.
We are big fans of using hardware based security keys, especially when it comes to the most sensitive personal data out there. You can never be too careful. So options like YubiKey come with a lot of value. And now you can do the same for your Google accounts.
