WHAT THE TECH: APPLE AND GOOGLE PUSH FOR A PASSWORD-FREE FUTURE

For decades, passwords have been the weakest link in digital security.

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Too short, too simple, or reused across dozens of accounts, they've left billions of users vulnerable to hacks and breaches. Now, Apple and Google are betting big on a replacement: passkeys, a technology designed to make logins more secure and seamless—without the need to remember a single string of characters.

HOW PASSKEYS WORK

Passkeys are built on the WebAuthn standard, using cryptographic keys stored securely on your device instead of typed passwords. When you log in to an account with a passkey, your phone or computer generates a unique digital signature to verify your identity. The site never sees your actual key, which means there's nothing for hackers to steal in a traditional data breach.

Instead of typing a password, you unlock your device with Face ID, Touch ID, or your system passcode. On a computer, you can approve logins with your phone. This way, your biometric data never leaves your device, and authentication happens invisibly in the background.