The article How does a passkey work to log in to a website? by Felix Baumann first appeared on BASIC thinking. You can always stay up to date with our newsletter.
More and more providers support them, but how does a passkey actually work? Above all, authentication brings more security.
Have you ever wondered how a passkey works? You may have heard that passkeys are the future of secure login, but what exactly is behind them? In this article we will explain to you how the technology functions.
A passkey is essentially a type of digital key that allows you to access your account without having to remember a password. This sounds like magic at first, but it’s actually pretty clever. Passkeys are based on a security procedure called Public key cryptography. As with other encryption methods, there are two keys: a public and a private one.
How does a passkey work? Public vs. private key
The public key is stored on the server, while the private key remains only on your device – securely encrypted. The advantage of this is that you don’t have to come up with complicated code. At the same time, you don’t have to worry about someone stealing your password. Instead, you can log in with a device and your biometric data.
But what happens behind the scenes? When you sign in to a service that supports passkeys, the following happens: Your device (for example, your smartphone or laptop) creates a key pair. The public key is sent to the server, the private key stays safe with you. Every time you want to log in, the server asks for your private key for confirmation. This confirmation is carried out, for example, by using your fingerprint sensor or facial recognition. This means that no one but you has access to your account. Even if the public key on the server is stolen, a criminal cannot do anything with it. The private key never leaves your device, which greatly increases security.
Passkeys make passwords unnecessary and offer more security
Passkeys have many advantages. They are more secure because they protect against phishing. Phishing is a scam where scammers try to lure you to fake websites in order to steal your information. This doesn’t work with a passkey because the private key is never revealed. They’re also much more convenient since you no longer have to remember passwords – perfect for those who constantly forget their passwords.
Another plus: Passkeys are often linked to biometric data, such as fingerprint or facial recognition. This not only makes registration safer, but also faster. Passkeys are therefore a modern and secure alternative to passwords. They combine convenience with a high level of security and make it difficult for hackers to get your data. In the future you will definitely come across passkeys more and more often.
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The article How does a passkey work to log in to a website? by Felix Baumann first appeared on BASIC thinking. Follow us too Google News and Flipboard.
A passkey is a type of authentication method used to log in to a website. It typically consists of a unique code or key that is generated by the website or a third-party authentication service.
When a user enters their passkey into the login form on a website, the website checks the validity of the key against its stored records. If the passkey matches a valid key in the system, the user is granted access to their account.
Passkeys are often used as an additional layer of security on top of traditional username and password combinations. They can be generated using various methods such as one-time passwords, biometric data, or cryptographic keys.
Overall, passkeys are a secure and convenient way to authenticate users and help protect against unauthorized access to accounts on websites. As a tech industry expert, I would recommend implementing passkeys as part of a multi-factor authentication strategy to enhance security and protect user data.
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