Unlocking Passkeys
A Deep Dive in Passkeys
Passkeys are the next evolution in secure authentication. And although they are relatively new, they are being rolled out by many popular websites and services. Security Moments recently published a Practical Moments episode called Goodbye Passwords, Hello Passkeys that touches on the basics of how they work. But I wanted to take a deeper dive into how passkeys protect your accounts behind the scenes.
What Exactly Is a Passkey?
A passkey is a newer way to log in without typing a password and in many cases without even typing a user name. Instead of entering something you have to remember, your device asks you to confirm who you are. You might use your face, fingerprint, or a short PIN to prove it is really you, and once you do that, your phone or laptop takes care of the actual sign-in.
It feels simple on the surface, but a lot is happening behind the scenes. Passkeys work by creating a digital key that stays safely on your device. This key is encrypted and tied to that single device. Even if someone copied it, they would not be able to use it the way a stolen password could. Your device is the only thing that can use the passkey to log you in.
How Is a Passkey Created and Stored?
When you first enable passkey authentication for a specific website, your device quietly generates a unique pair of digital keys. Digital keys are bits of code that come in pairs, with one key staying on your device and the other key sent to the website where it is stored with your account.
Ok, stay with me on this. If you enable passkey authentication on a second device, it will create a separate set of digital keys. So now your website has two different public keys for your account, matching the private key stored on each device. The same is true for a third device, fourth device, etc.
Private keys are stored on your device in a secure area that cannot be accessed the same way a normal file can. The public key is stored by the website in its user database along with all the other information about yourself that you provided.
Here is where it gets a bit more interesting. Some systems make this feel seamless by syncing passkeys across your devices. Apple, Google, Microsoft, and many commercial password managers can securely sync passkeys so it feels like one passkey is available everywhere you sign in. This syncing is protected by strong encryption, and your private keys never leave the secure storage on each device in a readable form.
Why Passkeys Are Safer
For one, since you never type a password, there is nothing for a fake website to trick you into giving away. Passkeys are considered phishing-resistant and are one of the best ways to protect your online accounts, especially for small businesses that cannot afford a major security incident.
And because passkeys are stored securely on your device and only work when used from an authorized device, even if a business suffers a data breach, your account remains protected.
Do Not Skip the Extra Check
Some websites give you the option to “remember this device” so you can skip a fingerprint or face scan the next time you log in. It might be tempting to make things faster, but it is better to keep that extra verification step turned on.
Think of it as your safety net. If your phone or laptop is ever lost or stolen, that extra step keeps your accounts protected.
How to Get Started
Many popular services already support passkeys, including Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and PayPal. When you see an option that says “Use a passkey,” give it a try.
Once you set one up, you will wonder why you ever dealt with passwords in the first place. Passkeys make logging in faster, easier, and safer, and they are quickly becoming the new standard for secure access.
Stay Safe and Stay Secure
If you would like to learn more practical ways to protect your business, please visit our Cyber Blog at securitymoments.com/blog.