One of the most popular password managers will be getting rid of passwords in the near future. 1Password announced that from summer 2023, users will have the option to unlock their password accounts with a passkey instead of a password. The company asserts that passkeys are the modern alternative to passwords and are faster and more secure to boot.
What does that mean for customers? First you need to understand what a passkey is and how it works.
How passkeys work
Passkeys are a means of logging in that does not require users to type out a password or use multi-factor authentication (MFA). Instead, when logging in, the user utilizes a chosen device as an authenticator, which asks them to use their face or fingerprint as a security measure. Passkey technology relies on the same technology as SSL certificates; public key cryptography.
Like with an SSL certificate, passkeys rely on key pairs for encryption: a public key and a private key. The public key is registered to the online service, website, or app you wish to log in to, while the private key is saved to your device and is never shared with anyone else. This ostensibly makes it safer than a password because there’s nothing you have to remember and nothing you can forget. Once you authenticate yourself, your device does everything for you. It will confirm you are who you say you are to the site or service you’re trying to visit, and you’ll be logged in in no time.
How 1Password’s passkeys will work
1Password doesn’t seem to be phasing out passwords altogether just yet but instead adopting passkeys as an option for interested users. The passwords saved in the manager’s vaults will still be passwords. You’ll just need to use your passkey to utilize them and access your data. This should ease and speed up certain processes, such as signing in on new devices and onboarding new customers, while allowing for the use of built-in biometric authenticators everywhere.
Will passwords soon be a thing of the past?
This is an interesting development in the password space, and 1Password isn’t the first to make this change. With many other companies, such as Microsoft, Google, and Apple, making plans to move toward widespread passkey adoption, it seems like passwords may one day be a thing of the past.
Cora is a digital copywriter for SSLs.com. Having eight years of experience in online content creation, she is a versatile writer with an interest in a wide variety of topics, ranging from technology to marketing.