Overview

• Microsoft is urging users to delete traditional passwords entirely, citing increased security risks and the rise in password-related attacks, which now occur at a rate of 7,000 per second.
• Passkeys, tied to physical devices and secured by biometrics or PINs, are being introduced as the default login method across Outlook, Xbox, Windows, and Microsoft 365.
• The new sign-in experience simplifies account creation by replacing passwords with email verification and one-time codes, followed by passkey setup.
• Millions of users have already transitioned to passkeys, with Microsoft emphasizing the elimination of passwords to protect against phishing and brute-force attacks.
• The FIDO Alliance has praised Microsoft's initiative as a pivotal step in the global shift toward phishing-resistant authentication, with passkeys projected to dominate within two years.