Login with fingerprint or face instead of password... Kakao introduces 'Passkey'

'Passkey' Login Introduced for Kakao Account

Kakao announced on the 25th that it has applied a new login method called 'passkeys' to Kakao accounts.

Passkeys authenticate users by unlocking the device using fingerprint, facial recognition, or pattern instead of entering a password. Kakao introduced passkeys to eliminate the inconvenience of remembering complex passwords or changing them periodically and to provide users with a safer and more convenient login experience.

Kakao has applied a new login method called 'passkeys' to Kakao accounts. Photo by Kakao

With this introduction, Kakao account members can log in to their Kakao accounts without entering a password. Once registered, passkeys are automatically synchronized through platform clouds such as iOS and Android, allowing users to conveniently use them across various devices they own.

When a passkey is created, a unique encryption key is generated; the public key is stored on the server, and the private key is stored on the user's device or cloud. During the login process, authentication occurs only if the public key and private key match, making it safer from security threats such as password leaks and phishing compared to traditional login methods.

In particular, Kakao has increased versatility by introducing web-based passkeys. Unlike most domestic services where passkey adoption is limited to app environments, Kakao applied it to Kakao accounts based on the web. Through this, not only Kakao services but also external services using Kakao Login can support passkey login.

Kakao account passkeys can be easily registered and managed in the 'Account Security' menu on the Kakao account webpage. Detailed information can also be found on the passkey campaign page.

A Kakao representative said, "Passkeys are emerging as the next-generation login method and have started to be adopted mainly by global big tech companies, with increasing adoption cases domestically as well. We plan to gradually expand the scope of use, including redesigning the login page, so that more users can use Kakao Login more safely and conveniently."