If you’ve ever clicked “Forgot Password?” for what feels like the hundredth time, you’re not alone! Between banking, shopping, email, and social media, keeping track of passwords can feel like a full-time job. And no, using your dog’s name followed by your birthday isn’t the security strategy it once seemed to be.
Fortunately, there’s a newer option that makes signing in easier and safer: passkeys. But what exactly are they, and when should you use them?
The Problem With Passwords
Passwords have been protecting our online accounts for years. The trouble is that we’re expected to create strong, unique passwords for dozens of websites and remember them all.
Many people reuse passwords because remembering a different one for every account is difficult. Unfortunately, if criminals steal a password from one website, they may try it on other sites, too.
Passwords can also be stolen through phishing scams, in which criminals send fake emails or messages designed to trick you into revealing your login information.
A strong, unique password and a reputable password manager can help. But there’s another option worth knowing about.
What Is a Passkey?
Think of a passkey as a digital key that helps prove you are who you say you are—without requiring you to type a password.
Instead of remembering a string of letters, numbers, and symbols, you might sign in using your fingerprint, facial recognition, or your device’s PIN. Your phone or computer handles the complicated security work behind the scenes.
For example, imagine signing in to your favorite shopping website. Instead of typing your password, you select the passkey option and confirm your identity with your fingerprint. You’re in!
The important difference: A passkey uses a pair of digital keys. The website stores a public key, while the corresponding private key is protected by your device or passkey manager. Your private key isn’t sent to the website.
And don’t worry: when you use your fingerprint or face to unlock a passkey, your biometric information stays on your device. It isn’t sent to the website as part of the sign-in process.
Passkeys Versus Passwords: Which Is Safer?
Passkeys have several important advantages:
- Harder to fool: Passkeys are designed to resist phishing. They’re linked to the genuine website or app, so a fake website generally can’t trick your device into using the passkey there.
- No password to remember: You can stop worrying about creating another complicated combination of characters.
- Unique by design: Each passkey is specific to its website or app, so there’s no password reuse problem.
- Better protection against data breaches: Websites don’t store the private key needed to use your passkey, making stolen website databases less useful to attackers.
Does that mean passwords are useless? Not quite. Many websites still rely on them, and a strong, unique password is much better than a weak or reused one.
Passkeys aren’t magic, either. You still need to protect your phone, computer, and account recovery options. If someone gains control of your device or the account that synchronizes your passkeys, your security could be at risk.
What Happens If You Lose Your Phone?
This is a perfectly reasonable concern. After all, losing your phone is stressful enough without worrying about being locked out of everything!
The good news is that many passkeys can securely synchronize across your devices through services such as Apple’s iCloud Keychain or Google Password Manager. If you replace your phone and restore your account, your passkeys may be available on the new device.
However, recovery depends on how your passkey is stored and which service you use. Before switching, make sure your account recovery information is current and that you understand how to regain access if your device is lost.
Should You Switch to Passkeys?
My advice? When a trusted website or app offers passkeys, consider using one.
Start with an important account, such as your email account, and follow the website’s official instructions. The process is usually straightforward.
Remember these three tips:
- Keep your phone and computer protected with a strong PIN or other screen lock.
- Never share verification codes or account recovery information with someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
- For accounts that still require passwords, use strong, unique passwords and consider a reputable password manager.
The Bottom Line
Passwords have served us well, but passkeys offer a simpler and more phishing-resistant way to sign in to supported websites and apps.
You don’t need to become a technology expert to use them. You just need to understand the basics, take a few sensible precautions, and be willing to try something new.
And if it means remembering fewer passwords, that’s one less thing to keep you up at night!
Your online security should give you peace of mind—not another password to forget.