The Redmond software giant has announced that Microsoft Edge users can now securely save and sync their passkeys across Windows devices using Microsoft Password Manager. The technology is based on the open Fast IDentity Online 2 (FIDO2) standard. This new feature is designed to make signing in to online accounts easier, faster, and significantly more secure.
Advertisеment
The company explains that passkeys are a modern technology that replaces passwords. Instead of entering a complex combination of characters, users verify their identity using biometric data (fingerprint, face scan) or a device PIN.
When a passkey is generated, a unique private key is stored on your device, and the website stores the associated public key. This means that even if the site is hacked and your data is leaked, your credentials will remain secure, as the private key never leaves your device.
When you visit a site that supports such access keys, Edge will prompt you to create and save one in Microsoft Password Manager. When you first create a key, you'll need to set a PIN for the password manager itself. This PIN will then be used to unlock your access keys on new devices, providing an additional layer of security.
To use the ability to create and save passkeys in Microsoft Edge, you must have:
- A computer running Windows 10 (or later).
- Microsoft Edge browser version 142 (or later).
- Microsoft account.
Generated passkeys are stored encrypted in the Microsoft cloud and further protected by a Microsoft Password Manager PIN. The system limits the number of PIN entry attempts (up to 10), and all unlock and reset attempts are logged in a secure Azure log for maximum transparency.
Support us
Winaero greatly relies on your support. You can help the site keep bringing you interesting and useful content and software by using these options:
