Passkey vs. Password: Which will make your account more secure than a lock? Learn the difference.

Passkey vs. Password: A password is a combination of words, numbers, or special characters that you set for every online account. It's considered the first layer of security for your account.

Passkey vs. Password: A password is a combination of words, numbers, or special characters that you set for every online account. It's considered the first layer of security for your account. But over time, password flaws have become apparent. People often use simple passwords like 123456, their date of birth, or their mobile number, which hackers can crack within seconds. Password theft, leakage, or phishing has become a common problem.

What is a Passkey and how does it work?

Passkey is a new, more modern, and secure method that virtually eliminates the need for a password. It relies on biometric authentication, such as fingerprint, face unlock, or your device's lock. When you set up a Passkey on a website or app, your data is stored only on your device, not in the cloud. There's no need to type in a password or remember one.

Passkey operates on a two-part encrypted system: one on your device and the other on the website's server. Both are matched only when you authorize login. This makes it nearly impossible to hack or steal.

Which is more secure?

No matter how strong your password, there's always a risk. If someone gets hold of your password, your data could be at risk. Phishing attacks also easily steal passwords.

Passkey, meanwhile, doesn't contain any text or numbers that can be stolen. It can only be accessed through your fingerprint, face, or device. This means that no matter how hard hackers try, it's nearly impossible to crack because it's biometric and device-based.

Which should you use?

If you're truly serious about online security, it's best to switch from passwords to passkeys. Google, Apple, Microsoft, and many other major companies are gradually supporting passkeys. You too can lock your account with this modern and secure technology.