Passwordless Future: A Comprehensive Passkeys FAQ | Bitwarden Resources (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between passwordless and passkeys? ›

Passkeys are the future of secure authentication. They are more secure and more convenient than passwords and traditional MFA. They are also more secure and more convenient than other passwordless methods like magic links, SMS/Email OTP, and push notifications.

Do I need 2FA with my passkey? No, because 2FA is built into the passkey that is provided to the website during the login process. Each website may choose to include an additional step for logging in, though most do not.

All the big operating systems, as well as third party password managers such as Dashlane, 1Password, and Bitwarden all support passkeys.

Passkey management is now available in Bitwarden! Users can store passkeys right in their vaults next to passwords and other logins. Read on to learn more.

If someone gets your device, they can't do anything with your passkey. And if you lose your old device containing your passkey, you can easily create a new passkey on your new device.

Passkeys also can't be stolen in a data breach. Only the public key is stored on an app or website's server, and it's useless without the corresponding private key. Without physical access to your device (and a way to unlock it), no one can log in to your passkey-protected accounts.

Passkeys are a convenient and secure way to sign in to your Amazon account without using a password. With passkeys, you can sign in to your Amazon account by simply using your face, fingerprint, or the PIN that you use to unlock your device. You will not need to provide your Amazon password to sign in.

What happens if a user loses their device? Passkeys created on Android are backed up and synced with Android devices that are signed in to the same Google Account, in the same way as passwords are backed up to the password manager. That means user's passkeys go with them when they replace their devices.

Since passkeys aren't exclusively the domain of Apple, once it's fully launched, you should be able to generate them on non-Apple devices for passwordless sign-in with your Apple ID, too, using Android or Windows using either the Chrome or Edge browser, which each support passkeys.

The disadvantages of using Passkeys include: they are not yet widely adopted, they need extra software and hardware, and they can be costly, and businesses may need to budget for implementation.

Is it safe to store passkeys in 1Password? ›

You can save all sorts of sensitive information in 1Password including your usernames and passwords, addresses, credit cards, and medical records. It's also a safe and convenient place to store your passkeys – a new type of login credential that lets you sign in to accounts with unmatched security and convenience.

While there are already 100+ popular websites that support passkey login, including Amazon and GitHub, this is still a developing technology. Passwords won't totally disappear anytime soon, but many users are already going passwordless wherever it's available.

YubiKeys can handle authentication through multiple means: two-factor, multi-factor, and touch-to-sign. Further, with our latest iteration, the YubiKey 5 Series, our security keys even offer passwordless authentication using passkeys.

Typically, passkeys are accessed from the browser and device they were created on. With LastPass, it doesn't matter what device or browser you're on when you create a passkey.

Developed with the standards set by the FIDO Alliance, passkeys allow a user to secure their accounts and bypass the vulnerabilities that come with standard password authentication, such as phishing. Stored passkeys are protected with Bitwarden's trusted end-to-end encryption.

Why go passwordless. Passwordless authentication brings important advantages. It makes things more secure by removing the need for traditional passwords that can be easily abused. This also means users don't have to worry about memorising or managing passwords, making the whole process much easier.

User Experience: Passkeys offer a more user-friendly experience, as they leverage familiar device unlock methods like biometrics or PINs. Security keys, on the other hand, may require additional steps or physical possession, which can impact usability.

Passkeys are phishing-resistant, unlike passwords

With passwords, it's easy to fall for phishing attacks because users can enter their username and password into a malicious site unaware that the site was designed by a cybercriminal to steal their credentials.

Notably, the era of traditional passwords is coming to an end and organizations' are increasingly recognizing the need for more secure and user-friendly authentication methods. Passkeys offer a promising alternative to passwords, providing enhanced security and usability for users.