Managing countless passwords for online accounts has become overwhelming. Between shopping, banking, social media, and government services, we’re juggling dozens of login credentials while cyber criminals work tirelessly to steal them. Fortunately, passkey technology promises to make online security both easier and more effective.

If you’ve been wondering “what are passkeys?” or “are passkeys better than passwords?”, this guide explains everything you need to know about this passwordless authentication method.

Why Passwords Are Problematic for Online Security

Passwords have three fundamental weaknesses that make them vulnerable to cyber attacks:

1. Passwords can be guessed. When people are forced to remember multiple passwords, they naturally create simpler, more predictable ones that criminals can crack using brute force attacks.

2. Passwords can be stolen. Phishing attacks trick users into entering credentials on fake websites, allowing cyber criminals to steal login information.

3. Passwords get reused. When people reuse the same password across multiple services, one data breach can compromise several accounts simultaneously, a practice known as credential stuffing.

According to recent cybersecurity research, over 80% of data breaches involve weak or stolen passwords, making password security one of the biggest challenges in digital safety.

What Are Passkeys?

Passkeys represent a revolutionary approach to account security. Unlike traditional passwords, passkeys are cryptographic credentials that are created, stored, and managed automatically by credential managers built into your devices.

Popular credential managers include:

• Apple Passwords (iOS and macOS)
• Google Password Manager (Android and Chrome)
• Windows Hello (Windows 11)
• Samsung Pass (Samsung devices)

When you want to access an account protected by a passkey, you simply use your biometric authentication (fingerprint or face recognition) or device PIN. While sophisticated public key cryptography works behind the scenes, the user experience is straightforward.

Most credential managers will securely back up your passkeys to the cloud and sync them across your devices, eliminating the need to create separate passkeys for each gadget you own.

How Do Passkeys Work?

Unlike passwords, which are identical copies shared between you and the service, passkeys use public key cryptography with a unique pair of related but different virtual keys.

Here’s how the passkey system works:

Your passkey (private key) stays secret on your device, protected by your credential manager. It never leaves your phone, tablet, or computer.

The verifier (public key) is given to the online service. This companion key is used only to verify your identity during login.

Both parts are needed to sign in, but crucially, the secret passkey never gets transmitted over the internet or stored on the service’s servers.

The Passkey Login Process

When you sign in using a passkey:

1. Your device receives a cryptographic challenge from the service
2. You authenticate yourself using biometrics or your device PIN
3. Your device proves you have the matching passkey without revealing it
4. The service verifies this proof using the public key it holds
5. You’re granted access to your account

This system makes passkeys virtually impossible to steal through phishing attacks or data breaches.

Why Passkeys Are More Secure Than Passwords

Passkeys offer significant security advantages over traditional password-based authentication:

Phishing-resistant authentication: Passkeys only work with the specific service they were created for. Fake websites and phishing scams become useless because the passkey won’t activate on fraudulent sites.

No password reuse vulnerabilities: Each passkey is unique to one account, eliminating the risk of credential stuffing attacks across multiple services.

Breach-proof credentials: Even if criminals hack a service and steal public keys (verifiers), they still can’t access your account. The private passkey remains safely on your device.

Impossible to guess: Passkeys are randomly generated cryptographic keys that are astronomically complex—far beyond anything a human could create or a criminal could guess.

Multi-factor authentication built-in: Using a passkey inherently combines something you have (your device) with something you are (biometric) or know (PIN), providing stronger protection than passwords alone.

Benefits of Using Passkeys Over Passwords

Beyond security improvements, passkeys make your digital life simpler:

Easier account setup: No more creating complex passwords, typing them twice, or dealing with frustrating password complexity requirements.

Faster login experience: Your credential manager automatically presents relevant account options for each service—no typing usernames or remembering which email you used.

No password reset hassles: Forget about “forgot password” links, security questions, or waiting for reset emails.

Better privacy: Passkeys don’t require sharing personal information or using third-party authentication services unless you choose to.

How to Start Using Passkeys Today

Many popular services now support passkey authentication, including:

• Google accounts
• Microsoft accounts
• Apple ID
• PayPal
• Amazon
• GitHub
• Shopify

To set up a passkey, look in your account’s security or privacy settings for options like “Add a passkey” or “Passwordless sign-in.” The setup process typically takes less than a minute. Start with your most important accounts first such as email, banking and accounts containing payment information.

Are Passkeys the Future of Online Security?

While passkeys aren’t yet perfect and adoption is still growing, they represent a major leap forward in authentication technology. The FIDO Alliance and major tech companies are working together to standardize passkey implementation across platforms and services.

As more websites and apps adopt passkey technology, we move closer to a future where password frustration becomes a distant memory. The combination of enhanced security and improved usability makes passkeys one of the most promising developments in cybersecurity.

Ready to improve your security? Get in touch! At Three Cherries, we can help you roll out passkeys among your accounts seamlessly. Contact us here today.