Companies and social media platforms are embracing passkeys more readily nowadays. Microsoft made new accounts passwordless by default just last month, Windows 11 has supported passkeys for quite a while, and Google hasn't been left behind either. Interestingly, while passkeys work on WhatsApp too, Facebook hasn't enjoyed the same functionality, even though both apps are owned by the same parent company, Meta. Well, that changes today.
Meta has announced support for passkeys in Facebook's mobile app. For those unaware, passkeys are essentially an alternative for passwords, as they allow you to sign in to a service securely using the same means that you use to unlock your device. This includes biometric authentication mechanisms such as facial and fingerprint recognition, as well as PIN. Since you don't need to memorize or externally store a complex password, and the methods highlighted above can't be easily duped, you effectively become more secure when you leverage passkeys. Passkeys were developed by the FIDO Alliance, and Meta is a member of this collective too.
Apart from highlighting the benefits of passkeys, such as being pretty much immune to phishing and password spray attacks, Meta has revealed that they are coming to the Facebook mobile app on Android and iOS. They will also be arriving on Messenger in the next few months, and both services will share the same passkey for a more streamlined experience. Meta will also allow customers to utilize this passkey to securely autofill payment information when leveraging Meta Pay.
Customers can head over to the Accounts Center in the Settings area to create and manage their passkey, or alternatively, they'll also be prompted to create one when they log in to Facebook next. It is important to note that Meta isn't doing away with passwords on Facebook just yet, as all devices may not be compatible with passkeys.
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