Microsoft is leading the way for a passwordless future. You no longer require passwords to login to your Microsoft account as you can now use the Microsoft Authenticator app, Windows Hello, a security key or a verification code sent via SMS or email.
Microsoft’s new passwordless feature will be rolled out over the coming weeks, and it can be used to sign in to Microsoft apps and services such as Outlook, OneDrive, and more. It’s like 2-step verification but without the password. The company has been preparing for a passwordless future for quite some time and its reason behind is the fact that passwords can be easily manipulated.
“We are expected to create complex and unique passwords, remember them, and change them frequently, but nobody likes doing that either,” said Vasu Jakkal, Corporate VP of Microsoft’s Security, Compliance and Identity. “Weak passwords are the entry point for the majority of attacks across enterprise and consumer accounts. There are a whopping 579 password attacks every second—that’s 18 billion every year,” Jakkal added.
How do you go passwordless
First install the Microsoft Authenticator app and link it to your Microsoft account.
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Open your Microsoft account and choose ‘Advanced Security Options’.
Under ‘Additional Security Options’ turn on ‘Passwordless Account’.
Then follow the on-screen prompts and approve the notification from the Authenticator app.
Your Microsoft account is now passwordless. You can always go back to using a password for your account. This seems interesting and can be helpful for people who need to remember multiple passwords. Microsoft has been working on this new security feature for quite some time. Back in 2018 it enabled security keys for Microsoft accounts, and it also made Windows 10 sign in passwordless in 2019.
If my account doesn't have a password, how will I sign in? Once you remove your password from your account, you will need to sign in using a passwordless method like the Microsoft Authenticator app, Windows Hello
Windows Hello
Windows Hello is a more personal, more secure way to get instant access to your Windows 10 devices using a PIN, facial recognition, or fingerprint. You'll need to set up a PIN as part of setting up fingerprint or facial recognition sign-in, but you can also sign in with just your PIN.
Microsoft Authenticator can be used to sign in to any Azure AD account without using a password. Microsoft Authenticator uses key-based authentication to enable a user credential that is tied to a device, where the device uses a PIN or biometric. Windows Hello for Business uses a similar technology.
You can go to Settings > Accounts > Your info > Sign in with a local profile instead.Then fill up the fields to create the local account profile. That's it.
To turn two-step verification on or off: Go to Security settings and sign in with your Microsoft account. Under the Two-step verification section, choose Set up two-step verification to turn it on, or choose Turn off two-step verification to turn it off.
Under Password, tap or click Change. Verify the current password for your local account. Leave the New password, Reenter password, and Password hint fields blank, tap or click Next, and then tap or click Finish. Now, you (or anyone) can sign in to your local account and use your PC without a password.
When it appears on the login screen, it requires the user to enter a password. However, according to Microsoft technical support team, the defaultuser0 account is internally encrypted, so there isn't a clear password for users to log in to Windows 10.
Users often have trouble using passwordless authentication since they are not used to it and are unsure what to do or anticipate. If a user loses their hardware token, troubleshooting becomes much more difficult and expensive.
Even with passwordless authentication, malware, man-in-the-browser, and other attacks are possible. For example, hackers can install malware specifically designed to intercept one-time passcodes (OTPs).
Passwordless authentication can help you avoid security breaches from poor password choices and management, worry over security risks to personal information, and frustration over forgotten passwords.
Passwordless authentication is harder to crack than traditional passwords, and it's less prone to most cyberattacks. But, it's not impervious to hacking. The most sophisticated attackers will always find a way.
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