Passkey: Say goodbye to the password era, the next generation of identity authentication methods is becoming popular

In the digital age, account security has always been a challenge. Passwords are easily leaked, stolen, and reused, becoming an important entry point for account attacks; Although traditional secondary verification methods such as SMS verification codes and email verification codes have improved security, they also have problems such as poor user experience and susceptibility to attacks. With the continuous upgrading of cyber attack methods, the industry is exploring more secure and convenient ways of identity authentication. Passkey is a new generation of identity authentication technology that emerged in this context. Its core concept is to use cryptographic key authentication instead of traditional passwords, allowing users to not remember passwords while reducing the risk of account theft.

Passkey is a password free authentication technology based on Public Key Cryptography, developed jointly by the FIDO Alliance and W3C WebAuthn standards. Unlike traditional passwords, Passkey does not require users to enter a username, password, or SMS verification code. Instead, identity verification is completed through security capabilities in the device, such as fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, or device PIN code. Users only need to confirm that 'this is me' to complete login or authentication.

Traditional account authentication mainly relies on passwords. After the user inputs their username and password, the server verifies and completes the login process. However, the password system has long had multiple issues. Users usually use the same password on multiple platforms, set simple and easy to remember passwords, or do not change passwords for a long time. Once a data leak occurs on a certain platform, attackers may use the leaked password to attempt to log in to other platforms. This attack method is called credential stuffing, which is also known as library collision attack. Passwords are also susceptible to phishing. Attackers can induce users to enter passwords through phishing websites, phishing emails, and fake login pages. Due to the difficulty for users to determine the authenticity of the website, passwords may be directly obtained by attackers. In order to enhance security, many platforms introduce SMS verification codes, email verification codes, and dynamic passwords, but these methods may still be affected by SIM card hijacking, email account theft, and social engineering attacks. Therefore, the industry needs a secure and simple authentication method.

The core technology of Passkey is asymmetric encryption. It will generate a pair of keys, namely a private key and a public key. When the user first opens Passkey, the device generates a private key and a public key. The private key is stored in a secure area of the user's device, such as the mobile phone security chip, TPM security module, or system password manager, and will not be uploaded to the server. The public key is sent to the server for storage. When the user logs in, the server will send a random challenge value (Challenge). The device uses a private key for signature and returns the signature result to the server. The server uses a public key to verify the signature. After successful verification, it can be proven that the user has the corresponding private key and has completed device identity confirmation.

Compared to traditional password authentication, traditional passwords require users to remember them, while passkeys do not. The risk of traditional password leakage is high, while the risk of Passkey leakage is extremely low. Traditional passwords are susceptible to phishing attacks, while passkeys are difficult to phishing. In the traditional cryptographic system, the server stores the password hash, while in the Passkey system, it stores the public key. Traditional passwords usually do not support biometric recognition, while Passkey supports it. In terms of user experience, traditional passwords require entering a password, and Passkey can be confirmed through fingerprint or facial recognition. The biggest difference between the two is that traditional passwords prove "I know this password", while Passkey proves "I have this private key and have been authenticated by the device".

The core reason why Passkey is more secure is that the private key will not leave the device. The server only stores the public key, and even if the database is leaked, the attacker only obtains the public key. Due to the inability to derive the private key from the public key, direct login to the account is not possible. Passkey also naturally has anti phishing capabilities. In traditional password authentication, after the user inputs their account and password, phishing websites can directly obtain them. The authentication process of Passkey involves binding the website domain name and server identity. If a user enters a fake website, the device will not use the Passkey corresponding to the real website for authentication, thus effectively preventing phishing attacks and fake login page attacks. Passkey also reduces the risk of inventory collision. Since it is not a combination of "account plus password", attackers cannot conduct large-scale attacks by leaking password libraries and attempting automated login.

Many people may question whether Passkey replaces SMS verification codes. The answer is that Passkey itself is a stronger form of identity authentication. Traditional multi factor authentication, such as password plus SMS verification code, belongs to the category of "knowing what" plus "possessing what". Passkey usually combines devices with biometric recognition, such as adding Face ID to a phone or fingerprint to a computer, to form a more secure and convenient authentication method.

With the continuous improvement of online payment security requirements, Passkey has also begun to be applied in payment authentication scenarios. In terms of account login protection, it can prevent account theft, database collision attacks, and abnormal login. In terms of payment confirmation, in the future, users can confirm their identity through fingerprint or facial recognition when making payments, reducing the experience loss caused by entering passwords and SMS verification codes. For accounts involving funds, Passkey can improve login security, payment confirmation reliability, and user identity credibility, thereby reducing the risk of account fraud.

Although Passkey has obvious advantages, there are still some challenges. Traditional passwords only require remembering the password, while Passkey relies on device security environment, so it needs to solve problems such as phone replacement, multi device synchronization, and device loss. At present, mainstream systems have improved the user experience through cloud synchronization mechanisms, such as Apple ecosystem keychain synchronization and Google password manager synchronization. User awareness still needs to be cultivated. Many users are accustomed to logging in with passwords, and it still takes some time to accept biometric authentication and device binding authentication. There are also transformation costs for enterprise systems, and the platform needs to support WebAuthn protocol, FIDO authentication process, and key management system, therefore requiring a certain amount of technical investment.

With the increasing problem of password disclosure and account attacks, traditional passwords are gradually becoming a weak point in the Internet security system. The development direction of future identity authentication is shifting from "remembering passwords" to "proving identity". Passkey represents a new security concept. It no longer relies on user memory passwords, no longer saves user passwords, and no longer repeatedly confirms through verification codes. Instead, it utilizes cryptography, device security capabilities, and biometric recognition to achieve more secure and convenient identity authentication. It can be foreseen that Passkey will not only be an alternative to passwords, but may also become an important infrastructure for future digital identity authentication.