Passwords have long been the first line of defense when it comes to online security. So long, in fact, that the technology is slowly becoming less and less proficient at actually protecting its users. Attempts have been made to bolster their security in a world that can hack most passwords in only a few seconds. Fortunately, tech firms like Apple, Google, and Microsoft are starting to get wise to the inevitable downfall of passwords, and have released plans to get rid of passwords, once and for all. If you’re thinking this process seems too simple, you’re right. The technology would be as easy as logging on your phone, which will store a FIDO credential — dubbed a passkey. This will allow you to sign into accounts by simply unlocking your phone, which is obviously tied to your identity pretty firmly. To be clear, these plans are very much in the early stages, and FIDO and big tech will both have to work hard to get websites and apps on board with this kind of innovation. Still, it’s hard to argue that passwords feel more than outdated enough to warrant a simple replacement. Outdated is one thing, but are passwords actually that unsafe as far as online security is concerned? To put it delicately, yes absolutely. Unfortunately, virtually no one uses passwords correctly. 85% of users admit to using the same password on multiple sites. The most commonly used password in the world is “123456.” Even worse, no one wants to get better at password security, with the majority of users pushing back when forced to use different logins for their accounts. Suffice it to say, passwords just aren’t going to cut it when it comes to online security. Experts know that you need a lengthy password with a variety of characters and numbers to keep hackers at bay, but everyday users are simply never going to get on board with these kinds of security measures. Clearly, we need a new way and, luckily, big tech is working on a long-term solution. In the meantime, if you really want to try to secure your information online, password managers are your best bet. They aren’t perfect, but they will help you follow password best practice — like having unique passwords for every account and alerting you to compromised logins — without having to commit too much to memory.
