Microsoft, Apple, Google, and even password manager LastPass are gradually getting rid of passwords. You can find out here what it’s all about and what users can expect now.
The business of password managers is not too complicated: almost everyone struggles with too many user accounts and the passwords attached to them, the password manager is a safe memory and filling aid.
But how about using the well-known password manager LastPass from a world without passwords delusional?
Now it must be said that the idea of abolishing passwords is not really new. But everyone can probably tell from everyday life that passwords are used everywhere. What LastPass currently has is unlocking the password manager without entering a master password. Instead, the app comes LastPass Authenticator to use.
Not really without a password
Firstly, unlocking the password manager without entering a password isn’t really new, and secondly, it doesn’t remove passwords completely. It’s standard on cell phones: Most password managers accept fingerprint or facial recognition unlock after setup.
The same applies to many clients using Windows Hello under Windows, for example. The free version of guardian You can also use Windows Hello, for example. Then you no longer have to type the master password, facial recognition or fingerprint is enough, then the password safe is opened.
Once opened, you can access your saved passwords and, in many cases, have them used automatically. So you no longer have to type or copy anything.
This saves you from having to deal with passwords, but the passwords are not deleted as a result; you, as a user, have no control over it. If providers insist on a password, you can only log in with a password.
Apple, Google and Microsoft want to abolish passwords
What could lead to a truly password-free future are the current aspirations of tech giants Apple, Google and Microsoft. They want Logins using the FIDO2 standard support for. Apple leads support with Passkeys for example in iOS 16 a.
In order for users to have as little worry as possible and the login details to be available on all devices, they should be synced across the provider’s clouds.
Data protection-sensitive users should have a headache here, especially since end-to-end encryption is not mandatory.
Windows login without password
Anyone can test what passwordless login looks like in practice when logging into Windows. However, this requires you to sign in with a Microsoft account. Also, on the smartphone, the Microsoft Authenticator second hand.
In the settings of microsoft account click on the “Security” section. There you will find the option “Account without password”. Click “Activate” there. For this to work, you must first have connected the authenticator app to the account.
Windows login works through a smartphone. The authenticator app sends a push notification that you enable with a touch of your finger.