Microsoft has made significant strides in enhancing account security by making brand new accounts ‘passwordless by default’, promoting the use of phishing-resistant passkeys. Users can now sign up without the need for a password and can opt for simpler sign-in methods. This shift supports a broader industry trend towards a passwordless future, bolstered by advancements from key players like Apple and Google.
Keypoints :
- Microsoft is now requiring new accounts to be ‘passwordless by default’.
- Users can sign in using various passwordless options and can remove passwords from their settings.
- The sign-in process automatically detects and prioritizes the best available authentication method.
- Passkeys replace the need for passwords, enhancing security through public/private key cryptography.
- The FIDO Alliance is working to improve passkey interoperability across different providers.
- As of December last year, over 15 billion user accounts are set to use passkeys instead of passwords.
- A new Payments Working Group has been launched to establish FIDO solutions for payment authentication.
Read More: https://thehackernews.com/2025/05/microsoft-sets-passkeys-default-for-new.html