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UK cyber chiefs say it's time to ditch passwords for passkeys - what are they?

UK cyber chiefs say it's time to ditch passwords for passkeys - what are they?

Summary

UK cyber security officials recommend people stop using passwords and switch to passkeys to protect their online accounts. Passkeys use device-based security features like fingerprint or face recognition and can be safer than passwords because they are unique to each website and harder to steal.

Key Facts

  • The UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) now suggests using passkeys instead of passwords for online security.
  • Passkeys do not require you to remember a secret code; they use digital keys stored on your device.
  • Passkeys work with technology like Face ID on iPhones or Face Unlock on Google Pixel phones.
  • They use public key cryptography, which means one key stays on your device and one on the service you use.
  • Passkeys protect against phishing and hacking because only the device owner can access the account.
  • Apple, Google, and X (formerly Twitter) have started to support passkeys.
  • Passkeys may be more secure than multi-factor authentication but are not perfect; losing your device can cause access problems.
  • Not all websites and platforms yet allow passkey use, which slows full adoption.
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