Passkeys: The Passwordless Future Is Here

Passwords have been with us for 60 years. And all these years they’ve been hacked, forgotten, lost. Passkeys are the technology that will finally replace passwords. Let’s understand how it works and why you should switch now.

What Are Passkeys

How They Work

A passkey is a cryptographic key stored on your device:

REGISTRATION:
Device creates key pair
├── Private key → stored on device (never leaves)
└── Public key → sent to server

LOGIN:
Server sends challenge
└── Device signs with private key
    └── Server verifies with public key
        └── Login complete

How They Differ From Passwords

Passwords	Passkeys
Stored on server (hash)	Server only knows public key
Can be stolen in breach	Nothing to steal - private key on device
Can be guessed	Cryptographically impossible
Can be phished	Bound to domain - phishing impossible
Must remember	Device biometrics or PIN

Technology Under the Hood

Passkeys are built on standards:

• FIDO2: authentication protocol
• WebAuthn: web API for browsers
• CTAP2: authenticator communication protocol

---

Why Passkeys Are Safer

Password Problems

1. Database breaches: billions of passwords publicly available
2. Phishing: fake sites collect passwords
3. Reuse: same password on dozens of sites
4. Weak passwords: “123456” still in top
5. Social engineering: “security team” asks for password

How Passkeys Solve Problems

Problem	Solution
Database breach	Public key useless without private
Phishing	Passkey verifies domain - won’t work on fake site
Reuse	Unique key for each site automatically
Weak passwords	Cryptographic key, not human-created
Social engineering	Nothing to share - biometrics not transmitted

---

How Passkey Login Works

User Experience

1. Open website
2. Click “Login”
3. Biometric prompt appears (Face ID, Touch ID, Windows Hello)
4. Confirm - you’re in

Time: 2-3 seconds instead of typing password + 2FA.

What Happens Under the Hood

1. Site: "Here's a challenge, sign it"
2. Browser: "There's a passkey for this domain"
3. OS: "Confirm identity with biometrics"
4. You: *place finger*
5. Device: *signs challenge with private key*
6. Site: *verifies signature with public key*
7. Done - you're authenticated

---

Where You Can Use Passkeys

Supporting Services (2026)

Service	Status
Google	✅ Full support
Apple	✅ Full support
Microsoft	✅ Full support
GitHub	✅ Full support
PayPal	✅ Supported
eBay	✅ Supported
Best Buy	✅ Supported
Kayak	✅ Supported
1Password	✅ Stores passkeys
Bitwarden	✅ Stores passkeys

Constantly Growing List

Site passkeys.directory tracks support - already 100+ services.

---

Setting Up Passkeys

Apple (iPhone, iPad, Mac)

Requirements: iOS 16+ / macOS Ventura+ / Safari or Chrome

Creating:

1. Open site with passkey support
2. Registration or Settings → Security → Passkeys
3. “Create passkey”
4. Confirm with Face ID / Touch ID
5. Done - passkey saved in iCloud Keychain

Sync: Automatically between Apple devices via iCloud.

Google (Android, Chrome)

Requirements: Android 9+ / Chrome 109+

Creating:

1. Open site
2. Security settings → Passkeys
3. “Create passkey”
4. Confirm with fingerprint or PIN
5. Passkey saved in Google Password Manager

Sync: Between Android devices and Chrome via Google account.

Windows (Windows Hello)

Requirements: Windows 10/11 with Windows Hello (fingerprint, face, or PIN)

Creating:

1. Open site in Edge or Chrome
2. Create passkey
3. Confirm with Windows Hello
4. Passkey saved locally or in password manager

Sync: Via 1Password, Bitwarden, or other manager with passkey support.

Password Managers

1Password:

• Stores passkeys alongside passwords
• Sync across all platforms
• Browser autofill

Bitwarden:

• Free passkey storage
• Cross-platform
• Open source

---

Passkeys Across Devices

Scenario: iPhone at Home, Windows at Work

Option 1: Cross-platform manager

• Use 1Password or Bitwarden
• Passkeys available everywhere

Option 2: QR code login

1. On Windows click “Login with passkey”
2. Select “Use another device”
3. Scan QR code with iPhone
4. Confirm with Face ID
5. You’re logged in on Windows

Hardware Keys

YubiKey and other FIDO2 keys work as passkeys:

• Connect to USB or tap NFC
• Press button on key
• Login complete

Pros: Works everywhere, not ecosystem-dependent.

---

Passkeys vs Other Methods

Comparison

Method	Security	Convenience	Phishing Protection
Password	★★☆☆☆	★★★☆☆	★☆☆☆☆
Password + SMS	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆
Password + TOTP	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆
Password + key	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★★★
Passkey	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★

Passkey vs TOTP

TOTP	Passkey
Must enter code	One tap/glance
30 seconds to enter	Instant
Can enter on phishing site	Automatic domain check
Separate app	Built into device

Passkey vs Hardware Key

Hardware Key	Passkey
Must carry with you	On device
Can lose	Syncs to cloud
Works everywhere	Ecosystem-dependent
~$25-50	Free

---

What If You Lose Your Device

Backup Methods

1. Cloud sync: passkeys on other devices
2. Recovery codes: services provide during setup
3. Second passkey: on another device or hardware key
4. Account recovery: via email, phone

Recommendations

• Create passkey on multiple devices
• Save recovery codes (in password manager)
• Add hardware key as backup
• Don’t delete password yet - keep as fallback

---

Passkey Limitations

Current Issues

1. Not all sites support: about 100 services so far
2. Ecosystems separated: Apple passkey doesn’t work natively on Android
3. Corporate restrictions: MDM may block
4. Old devices: need modern OS

Solutions

Problem	Solution
Low support	Use where available, rest - password + 2FA
Different ecosystems	Cross-platform password manager
Old devices	Hardware FIDO2 key

---

Switching to Passkeys: Plan

Step 1: Start with Main Accounts

1. Google account: enable passkey in security settings
2. Apple ID: automatic when updating to iOS 17+
3. Microsoft: account settings → Security

Step 2: Critical Services

4. GitHub: for developers
5. PayPal: finances
6. Password manager: if supported

Step 3: Everything Else

7. Check security settings on each site
8. Enable passkey where available
9. Keep password as backup (don’t delete)

---

Implementation Checklist

Preparation

• Device updated to latest OS
• Biometrics configured (Face ID, Touch ID, Windows Hello)
• Have password manager for cross-platform

Critical Accounts

• Google passkey created
• Apple passkey created (automatic)
• Microsoft passkey created

Backup

• Passkey on multiple devices
• Recovery codes saved
• Password not deleted (just in case)

---

Summary

Passkeys aren’t an experiment - they’re a standard adopted by Apple, Google, and Microsoft simultaneously. The technology is ready for use: safer than passwords, more convenient than 2FA, impossible to phish.

Start with one account today. Google or Apple - both support it. In a year, passkeys will be everywhere.

Passkeys protect accounts, Tainet protects the connection. Together - security at all levels: from credentials to network traffic.