Android 14 might get rid of passwords for good
Dashlane among the first to sign up to Android 14 passkey feature
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The upcomingAndroid 14platform will allow third-party apps to handle passkeys when it releases later this year, one of the topbusiness password managershas revealed.
Dashlanealready supports passkeys, but only within its web browser extension. In the company’sblog post(opens in new tab), Dashlane noted that “mobile platforms such as Android and iOS will require changes to enable third-party applications such as Dashlane to manage passkeys. These are the very changes that have been included in [the] developer preview of Android 14”.
BothAppleandGoogleintroduced passkey support for their respective mobile systems in 2022, but these can only be stored within their own proprietary password managers.
Passkeys vs Passwords
Passkeys look set to replace passwords, and are considered much safer and easier to use. They work via two sets of encryption keys - one public and one private. The public key is stored in the cloud of the service in question, and the private is only stored on your device. No one will ever know this latter key, and remains encrypted when both keys are combined to unlock access to your account.
There is no need to remember these keys as are they automatically generated by your device and are unique for every account. All you need to create them and authorize their use is your biometric data, such as your fingerprint.
As Dashlane puts it, “Passkeys are phishing-resistant credentials based on FIDO standards and are the future of online authentication, designed as a more secure and user-friendly replacement for passwords.“FIDO(opens in new tab) is the alliance that sets the standards for passwordless technologies, and passkeys need to comply with itsWebAuthnspecifications. It has the backing of all the big tech players -Apple,Google,Microsoft, Meta,Amazonand so on.
Other popular apps that currently support passkeys include1Password, another popularpassword manager, eBay, PayPal and Best Buy. It is expected that eventually, every major app will make the switch to going passwordless.
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If you want to test out how easy it is to use passkeys, you can create a free demonstration account at theofficial WebAuthn site(opens in new tab).
If you haven’t used Dashlane before, it’s a great idea to check out the latestDashlane promo codesto save when signing up.
Lewis Maddison is a Reviews Writer for TechRadar. He previously worked as a Staff Writer for our business section, TechRadar Pro, where he had experience with productivity-enhancing hardware, ranging from keyboards to standing desks. His area of expertise lies in computer peripherals and audio hardware, having spent over a decade exploring the murky depths of both PC building and music production. He also revels in picking up on the finest details and niggles that ultimately make a big difference to the user experience.
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