Why the Passkey is Replacing The Password
Passwords have been around for decades, and they’re still used today for almost everything online. For many years, people have used the same passwords for different things, forget them, and then use the Forgot Password link a lot. Password managers helped with all of that, but they can also face breaches that made them lose trust sometimes. That’s why both users and companies want a new solution that’s easier and safer.
That’s when passkeys began to take off. They are a replacement for typed passwords with biometrics or device verification. Apple, Google, and Microsoft are all working together to make them more universal through their FIDO Alliance. Passkeys use encryption, which keeps your private key on your device, while websites store a public key. You have probably seen that when you want to access a passkey, you usually use either Face ID or Touch ID. I have tried these types of passkey logins, and it made it feel very easy.
Why do companies want this? Well, it’s because a weak or stolen password can lead to hacks and data breaches. Many of them spend millions fixing password-related security problems every year, and according to a 2025 report by Yubico and Ponemon Institute, 80% of data breaches still involve passwords. Many companies say that passkeys are safer and faster for users, but they also benefit by keeping people inside their own ecosystems.
There are also downsides to passkeys, like how losing your phone could mean losing access to most of your accounts. Some users don’t even feel comfortable with biometric data being used this way. Not every website and apps support passkeys yet, which can also make the transition confusing. Many people might still fall for fake AI or smart login marketing that isn’t actually secure either. So be careful when you’re doing stuff online! I mean, you probably. You knew that, so this is just a reminder.
Privacy is also a trade-off with passkeys. Many passwordless systems put more control in the hands of major tech companies, like Apple and Google could one day be the gatekeepers of most online accounts! All of that in a few companies could make things easier, but it could also create new risks if a company locks someone out if it gets a hack or something like that.
We are actually in a phase where we have both passwords and passkeys existing together. Google and Apple have already offered passkeys as a default way of protecting your own accounts, but many smaller apps haven’t caught up just yet. There is also the factor of how some users may not change because of habit and confusion. It’s like when chip cards replaced the swiping cards; they took years before everyone adjusted, and even now, some people use swiping to pay.
Imagine what a password-free world would look like: instant logins, no hacks, no Forget Password links. So cool! It could also change how people view online identity and security, and make things simpler, but also riskier if everything depends on one device or platform. I think this is real progress, and maybe one day we will have a lot of safe ways to log in, and it could also make some bad things happen, so let’s see what happens!
Would you trust your fingerprint or face more than a password? Do you think passwords could disappear completely? Do you feel safer knowing that tech companies control your login? Let us know in the comments!
Source: Yubico Image: Google