Microsoft Goes Passwordless: What You Need to Know
1 min read
Summary
In a significant leap, Microsoft has made passwordless authentication the norm for all new Microsoft accounts from 2025, in a move to increase security and ease of use for customers.
The traditional method of using passwords comes with a plethora of problems such as being easy to guess or crack, phishing attacks, and simply being forgotten by users.
Instead, Microsoft will encourage users to opt for more secure methods such as biometric login, PINs associated with a device, authentication apps, hardware security keys and passkeys, which are becoming an increasingly popular, new industry standard.
This new move aims to capitalise on the something you have or you are approach to authentication, which is more secure than the traditional something you know approach.
This method is safer than passwords, according to Microsoft, as PINs are device-specific, authenticator apps use encrypted communication, passkeys are phishing-resistant, and even if someone steals your device they would still need your biometrics to access it.
The new method will bring convenience as users will no longer need to remember numerous passwords and will provide future-proofing as the technology industry moves increasingly towards a passwordless future.