You can now log into your Microsoft account using Authenticator, Windows Hello, a security key, an SMS, or an email verification code.
Microsoft is ready to let you enter into its passwordless future. Since last week, the tech giant has started allowing users to access their Microsoft accounts using a variety of alternate methods instead of a password.
Related | Hootsuite Integrates Amplify With Microsoft Teams To Enhance Employee Advocacy
Microsoft began rolling out passwordless authentication for commercial users in March, with the intention of providing help to those adjusting to the new reality of remote working. In reality, though, it has been working on the feature for years – before the pandemic accelerated the digital transformation.
In 2018, the company enabled security keys, and it also made Windows 10 passwordless in 2019. “When you have digital transformation and businesses having to go remote overnight … the number of digital surfaces has increased exponentially,” explains Vasu Jakkal, corporate vice president of Microsoft security, compliance & identity. “The number of attack surfaces has increased exponentially, so that was a big driving factor for us in accelerating a lot of our security initiatives.”
More than 200 million Microsoft commercial customers are already using the passwordless option, and consumers are expected to easily adopt it.
Removing a password associated with a Microsoft account is a relatively simple process. To do so, the user needs to have the Microsoft Authenticator mobile app installed and linked to their personal Microsoft Account. Once this is set up, the user can then visit account.microsoft.com, to choose advanced security options and enable passwordless accounts in the additional security section.
The change will then need to be approved from the user’s Authenticator app, only the last step before the account becomes password free.
Users can reverse their choice at any time, and reinstate the old password system, but benefits of going passwordless are straightforward, especially when taking into account how easy it is to have your password compromised together with all the other accounts it is associated with.
Other big tech companies, such as Google and Apple, are also working on options that rely less on passwords. It is already possible, for example, to sign in to Google Chrome without a password, and the updates on Apple’s iOS 15 and macOS Monterey include Passkeys in iCloud Keychain, an attempt to replace passwords with a more secure login process.
You might also like
More from Tech
Leaked: Instagram Is Working On An AI Chatbot
Images leaked by app researcher Alessandra Paluzzi show that Instagram is working on an AI chatbot. According to the images shared …
ChatGPT Maker OpenAI Is Now The Fastest Growing Website
Traffic to the OpenAI website grew by 54.21% in March – the greatest leap among the world’s leading websites. OpenAI now …
This Digital Artist Takes Album Covers to the Next Level With Generative AI
Alexander Dobrokotov, a digital artist, used generative AI to envision a broader canvas around some of the most famous album …
Forget ‘Hey Siri’ – Apple Is Changing The Trigger To Just ‘Siri’ In iOS 17
Soon You Will Just Have To Say 'Siri' To Trigger Apple's Digital Assistant. The change is coming as part of …
Instacart Has A New In-App AI Search Tool Powered by ChatGPT
Instacart added a new AI search tool powered by ChatGPT. "Ask Instacart" will be available to all US and Canadian …
TikTok Begins Testing Tako, Its Own AI ChatBot
TikTok Tako is a new AI chatbot that could “radically change search and navigation” in the app. News of the test …
MissJourney AI: Fighting Biased Gender Stereotypes
Missjourney is an AI tool that generates images exclusively of women, from CEOs to leaders, superheroes, doctors and engineers. TEDxAmsterdam Women …
Google Product Studio Lets Merchants Create Product Imagery With Generative AI
Google is launching Product Studio, a new tool that lets merchants create product imagery for free, using generative AI. Google Product …
The OFFICIAL ChatGPT App Launches On iOS
OpenAI is launching an official ChatGPT app for iOS, sending a warning to all the unofficial apps out there. Finally. Months …
