Microsoft has announced a massive initiative to transition from traditional passwords to Passkeys, impacting over a billion users. This strategic move aims to dramatically improve security and accessibility for popular company services, including Xbox, Microsoft 365, and Microsoft Copilot.
According to company data, password-related attacks have reached an alarming rate of 7,000 attempts per second, nearly double the previous year's figures. Of particular concern is the 146% surge in phishing attacks over the past year. In response to these challenges, Microsoft is introducing Passkeys as a revolutionary solution.
The new authentication technology enables users to access their accounts using biometric data, PIN codes, or security keys. Statistics demonstrate impressive results: logging in with Passkeys is three times faster than traditional passwords and eight times faster than passwords with multi-factor authentication.
The effectiveness of the new system is validated by high success rates: 99% of users successfully complete access key registration, and the successful login rate reaches 98%, significantly surpassing traditional passwords at 32%. Microsoft began implementing Passkeys in 2022, and by 2024, the system has become the standard authentication method.
The company has placed significant emphasis on user experience, optimizing the registration process and developing effective notifications to encourage users to adopt the new system. Research has confirmed that enhanced security and speed are the primary factors motivating users to make the switch.
Notably, Microsoft isn't alone in this initiative - Passkeys technology is already supported by major players including Apple, Google, PayPal, Twitter, and TikTok, indicating the emergence of a new industry security standard in the digital world. The company is confident that abandoning traditional passwords will mark a turning point in combating modern cyber threats.