While its products reach consumers and businesses all over the world, one of the biggest headlines from the 2022 conference were not about a slimmer, faster new iPhone, but the company’s planned replacement for passwords that will be coming soon to Safari and iOS; a plan to make even the best password managers (opens in new tab) all but obsolete.
The password problem is well documented these days. With 39% of UK businesses being hit by cyber attacks last year, with phishing attacks accounting for nearly 90% of these, the security limitations of
And we all know what a poor experience passwords offer. The growing number to remember, plus the required complexity of these means the re-use and sharing of passwords is rampant. 72% of enterprise workers admit to reusing passwords, increasing vulnerability to costly account takeovers, data breaches and even stolen identities.
lternatives to passwords have been introduced in various forms over the last few years to counteract the glaring faults passwords present. Multi-factor Authentication(opens in new tab) (MFA) has helped some businesses improve security; however, the significance of Apple’s latest announcement and what it means in the move away from passwords is nothing short of mighty.
You can forget passwords but you can’t forget your face
Security and convenience are two of the most important features needed to truly enable the full eradication of passwords – biometric verification provides both to a high standard.
The future is passwordless
Apple’s WWDC announcement on passkeys is just one of many nails in the coffin for passwords, and it’s clear biometrics will be another when it comes to identity management(opens in new tab). While passwords won’t be totally eradicated in the very short term, organizations, service providers and device manufacturers should now start to consider the future of this biometrics-led and passwordless world, with face verification on top of RFPs.