Your forbidden book section: Keep your steamy romance novels on lock by creating a passkey for your Kindle. Tap the three dots (upper right) and go to Settings > Device Options > Device Passcode. Your passcode can be up to 12 digits long. That’s hot!
Goodbye passwords! Google just made a huge security change - Will it stick?
Passwords might be one of the biggest tech frustrations. Make them too hard, and they’re impossible to remember. Too easy, and your accounts are practically wide open.
Maybe you use a password manager or your browser’s built-in option to remember your logins. Here’s how to find saved passwords in your browser.
Those solutions aren’t perfect, of course. Password managers get hacked, and anyone with the know-how can access your saved browser options. No wonder tech companies are working to welcome us to a future sans passwords.
It starts with the FIDO Alliance
That stands for Fast IDentity Online. Big tech companies launched the industry association in 2013 to build a better system than passwords we have to keep track of and type in. Now we’re seeing more start to roll it out, and Google’s beta testing worked so well that the company just made it the standard way to protect your account.
Before we get to how to use passkeys, let’s do a deep dive into how they work.
What is a passkey, and how does it work?
A passkey is a personalized FIDO credential (like your fingerprint or face scan) that lives securely on your device. You use that instead of a username and password to unlock your accounts.
Another bonus: No more sticky notes with passwords on your monitor. Passkeys also eliminate the daily “Which password did I use here?” dilemma. Naturally, it’ll be faster and easier to log in.
But is it safe to use? Glad you’re asking. The unique structure of passkeys makes them near-impenetrable, unlike passwords — which are notoriously easy to crack. Since they’re stored on your local device, passkeys can’t be hacked or guessed like passwords.
And there’s no concern of a hacker getting their hands on one of your passwords and opening the keys to the castle since each device has its unique passkey. That’s a far cry from passwords, and studies show most people rely on only a handful of passwords for all their accounts.
Want to try it out?
Google just made passkeys the default - How to use this password replacement
It’s bad news almost every time I talk to you about passwords. That’s because we (as in, yeah, all of us) play fast and loose with this critical aspect of cybersecurity.
That stands for Fast IDentity Online. Big tech companies launched the industry association in 2013 to build a better system than passwords we have to keep track of and type in. Now we’re seeing more start to roll it out, and Google’s beta testing worked so well that the company just made it the standard way to protect your account.
Security upgrade: How to set up Google and Apple passkeys
I hate passwords. I know you do, too. Tech companies know we all do — and they’re finally doing something about it. Good timing, given how fast AI can crack passwords now, eh?
Passkeys use your device’s built-in security, like the fingerprint scanner on your phone or facial recognition on your laptop, to make online access tighter than the passwords you struggle to remember.
Everything Apple announced at this year's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC23)
Apple just wrapped up this year’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC23) and there’s a lot to look forward to for fans of these sleek devices. Here’s what’s coming soon.
Apple hasn’t really introduced a new product for 10 years. That was the Apple Watch. It made up for this lack of innovation with its new augmented reality (AR) goggles, “Vision Pro.”
No more passwords, please: Passkeys are becoming the new standard for Windows 11 security. Instead of typing in a password, you’ll confirm it’s you using another trusted device, like your phone, that has access to your biometric data. Fast, easy and less hackable. I’m in.
Enable passkeys for your Google account and say goodbye to passwords
Strong passwords aren’t enough to secure your most sensitive accounts. You want two-factor authentication (2FA), which is becoming standard across many industries and services. Here’s everything you need to know about 2FA.
Can't remember your passwords? Passkeys could make them obsolete
A weak password is a welcome mat for scammers and hackers. Strong, unique passwords are among your first lines of defense when it comes to cybersecurity.
We hope you don’t use the same passwords for multiple accounts. We hope your passwords aren’t easy to guess. And we really hope your password isn’t “password”! Here are 10 ways to secure your accounts with strong passwords.
Update your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple TV today
Before it was even released, the big news for iOS 16 was that it would introduce the ability to unsend texts. Finally! Well, it’s not as cut-and-dry as it may sound. Tap or click here for what actually happens when you unsend, edit or delete a text in iOS 16.
The next iPhone OS lets you edit and unsend texts and check if anyone has your passwords
Big Tech companies love to put on a big show and Apple is no exception. The Cupertino Company just wrapped up this year’s Worldwide Developer Conference and there’s a lot to look forward to if you love all things Apple.