Google, Apple, and MS Unite to Support Passwordless Login Technology

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Global big tech companies Apple, Google, and Microsoft (MS) have decided to expand support for passwordless login methods.

On the 5th (local time), the three companies announced in a joint statement, "As part of a collaborative effort to create a safer and universally accessible web, we have decided to expand support for the passwordless login standards of the 'FIDO Alliance' and the 'World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).'"

FIDO, an international authentication technology standard, is a user authentication framework proposed to address the problems of passwords. According to the FIDO Alliance, it enables an online login environment that does not rely on passwords across all devices and platforms, using methods such as 'facial recognition' or 'PIN (Personal Identification Number).'

The three companies have already supported the FIDO Alliance standard for passwordless login, but users had to log in to websites or applications separately on each device.

According to the announcement, going forward, users will be able to automatically access FIDO login credentials (passkeys) across multiple devices without having to register each account individually. Additionally, regardless of the operating system (OS) or web browser, users will be able to use FIDO authentication registered on their mobile devices to log in to apps or websites on nearby devices.

The existing password-based authentication method is not only cumbersome due to managing multiple passwords individually but also poses security risks from reusing the same password. This can lead to identity theft, financial crimes, data breaches, and other damages.

The newly announced feature is expected to be introduced on Apple, Google, and MS platforms around next year.

Alex Simons, Vice President of MS Authentication Program Management, said, "A complete transition to a passwordless world will begin when customers accept it as a natural part of their lives," adding, "A viable solution must be safer, simpler, and faster than the passwords or multi-factor authentication methods used today."