Overview

• Microsoft announced that all new accounts will now be passwordless by default, requiring users to adopt passkeys or other secure methods like biometrics or PINs.
• CyberNews' analysis of 19 billion leaked passwords revealed that only 6% were unique, with weak passwords such as '123456' and 'password' appearing millions of times in breaches.
• McAfee reports that 66% of users reuse passwords across accounts, contributing to 80% of data breaches, underscoring the need for stronger authentication practices.
• Security experts recommend using password managers, enabling multi-factor authentication, and transitioning to passkeys to protect against phishing and brute-force attacks.
• World Password Day 2025 highlighted the urgency of moving beyond traditional passwords, with Microsoft, Google, and Apple driving adoption of FIDO-backed passkey technology.