Passwords Are Passé? Google Passkeys Feature Added To Chrome. Know What They Can Do

Google has finally launched passkey support for Chrome Stable M108, after a few weeks of testing, in a bid to keep users safe.

Google has finally launched passkey support for Chrome Stable M108, after a few weeks of testing, in a bid to keep users safe on the web. Backed by the FIDO Alliance and tech giants such as Google, Apple, Microsoft and Facebook, passkeys for Chrome are essentially safer replacements for authentication methods and passwords.

According to Google, the new technology will take some time to be adopted across different sites. The current announcements have been made after the company announced passkey support for Chrome Canary earlier in October. 

Passkeys can be used to sign into sites and apps that support them. The process of signing in with a passkey requires authentication that is similar to unlocking a device. With the latest version of Chrome, Google is enabling passkeys on Windows 11, MacOS, and Android. When it comes to Android, the passkeys will be securely synced through Google Password Manager.

What are passkeys?

Passwords are typically the first line of defence in our digital lives. However, they are usually at risk of being phished, leaked in data breaches, and even suffering from poor password hygiene. In an attempt to tackle these, Google introduced features such as two-step verification and Google password manager. However, passkeys are much more advanced and are considered to be a better and safer replacement for passwords and traditional types of authentication. Also, passkeys cannot be reused or leaked in data breaches.

"To address these security threats in a simpler and more convenient way, we need to move towards passwordless authentication," Google said in a blog post.

Passkeys are a significantly safer replacement for passwords and other phishable authentication factors. They cannot be reused, don't leak in server breaches, and protect users from phishing attacks, according to Google. Passkeys are built on industry standards and can work across different operating systems and browser ecosystems. They can also be used with websites and apps.

Once the user has a saved passkey on his device, it can show up in autofill when the person is signing in to become more secure. Google stated that "on a desktop device users can also choose to use a passkey from the nearby mobile device." These passkey features are built on industry standards to ensure that they can be used on Android and iOS devices.

Google noted that passkeys don't leave the mobile device while signing in. This is because "only a securely generated code is exchanged with the site, so, unlike a password, there's nothing that should be leaked." To give users more control over passkeys, the company will allow them to manage their passkeys from within Chrome on Windows and MacOS. This can be done in Chrome M108.