Microsoft intends to abolish passwords, setting passwordless login as the standard for all new user accounts.

Ditching Passwords: Microsoft Embraces Passkey Security

A decade ago, Microsoft proposed an intriguing concept: saying goodbye to cumbersome and insecure passwords in favor of a more spontaneous, smile-based login. While the cloud services' ongoing teething troubles (like those pesky file sharing and collaboration issues) might make you shed tears instead of smiles, Microsoft is pushing ahead with this ambition. They've recently announced that new Microsoft accounts will operate passwordlessly (as reported by Bleeping Computer). Yes, that's right - no more laborious password creations!

But fear not, tech-skeptics out there, as Microsoft isn't leaving all new accounts completely vulnerable. Instead, new users will have multiple passwordless options at their disposal:

Windows Hello: Employing facial recognition or fingerprint scanning, this seamless sign-in method keeps your data extra secure.2
PINs: Personal identification numbers, or PINs, are another option for securing your account.2

To simplify the login experience, Microsoft automatically detects and chooses the most suitable method for each account.2

This shift marks a significant step towards realizing the dream of discarding passwords altogether. As more users adopt passkeys, password authentications will dwindle significantly until, eventually, the password era reaches its finish line.3

The primary impetus behind this move? The fundamental insecurity of passwords. Once a password has been compromised, a cybercriminal can effortlessly infiltrate an account simply by inputting the ill-gotten password.

According to Microsoft, "malicious actors recognize the password age is coming to a close, and the number of easily compromised accounts is progressively shrinking." In response, these bad actors have ramped up automated brute force and phishing attacks against any accounts still fortified by passwords.2

Although facial recognition and fingerprint scanning are not entirely impenetrable, biometric methods are generally more secure. Moreover, passkey-based methods offer not only enhanced security but also a more streamlined and speedier user experience.

Microsoft reports that users who sign in with passkeys are three times more likely to access their account successfully than those who rely on traditional passwords (about 98% versus 32%). Passkey logins are also a whopping eight times quicker than password-based authentication.2

Extra Insights:

Passkeys are phishing-resistant authentication methods designed for seamless use across various applications and websites.2
Users can adopt biometric authentication via Windows Hello, and PIN-based authentication options are also available.2

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Engaging in games this season might be more secure due to Microsoft's latest strategy, as they are enrolling new users into passwordless accounts, creating a broader scope for cybersecurity.
Theshift towards passkey security could potentially revolutionize data-and-cloud-computing technology, reducing the reliance on traditional password-based authentication methods.
In light of the new passwordless accounts, Microsoft is offering various options like Windows Hello and PINs for seamless and secure logins, mirroring features present in some PlayStation (PS) systems.
The adoption of passkeys could lead to a significant drop in password authentications, making the password era, often seen as a stumbling block in technology, a thing of the past.
With passkeys, gamers may reap the benefits of a more streamlined and speedier login process, as reported by Microsoft, where users are three times more likely to successfully access their accounts.
As cybersecurity concerns escalate, ditching passwords in favor of more robust passkey-based methods may become the norm, setting a precedent for the future of technology and cybersecurity.