Passkeys

Passkeys are an easier and more secure alternative to passwords. They let you sign-in with just your fingerprint, face scan, or screen lock.

See: What Is a Passkey?

Passkeys and Hardware Keys

Passkeys and hardware authentication keys are completely different but partially related. You can use some, but not all, hardware keys as passkeys. I’ll clear up the confusion, and tell you what to look for.

What Is a Passkey?

Passkeys are a new form of signing in that promise to be easier and more secure. I’ll walk you through some of the high level concepts and how they work, and how they keep you safer than passwords.

Passkeys Are Never the Only Way In

Losing a device with a passkey to one of your accounts will not lock you out.

Going Passwordless Without Going Passwordless

Passwords are dying. On some services, you can start playing with the process by creating a secure password… and then forgetting it.

The image shows a smartphone with a biometric fingerprint scanner in the center, representing device unlocking. In the background, there are abstract digital locks, key symbols, and security shields surrounding the phone to symbolize online security and protection.

Is a Passkey Two-Factor Authentication?

Passkeys are secure, but they’re not two-factor authentication in and of themselves. I’ll run the scenarios that explain why that is and when 2FA might be involved as well.

A finger pressing onto a fingerprint reader. The fingerprint reader is a modern, sleek device with a glowing blue light indicating where the finger should be placed. The background is a clean, minimalist setting, emphasizing the interaction between the thumb and the fingerprint reader.

What If There’s a Passkey on My Lost Phone?

Losing a device with a passkey isn’t a disaster at all. I’ll describe why that is.

A close-up of hands using a smartphone or tablet, with the device's screen displaying a clear and bright passkey icon.

How Can Passkeys Possibly Be Safe?

Passkeys may feel confusing now, but they’re a doorway to a more secure, less frustrating, passwordless future.

A photorealistic 16:9 image illustrating a scenario where a person of Caucasian descent is handing over a digital key to a family member of African descent. The scene is set against a background filled with subtle symbols and icons representing recovery options like emails and phone numbers, emphasizing the emergency access options for passkeys. This image conveys the idea of digital legacy and the importance of ensuring trusted individuals have access to digital assets in emergency situations, highlighting the role of passkeys in modern digital security.

Passkeys and Disaster Planning

Passkeys are new, convenient, and secure. I’ll review how they affect your disaster planning. (Not very much.)

How Websites Remember You: Diving into Cookies & More

Websites remember that you signed in previously both as a convenience and as a way to make using the site possible.