WhatsApp has been enhancing user experience through various new features over the past months. The latest addition is support for passkeys, as announced by the company recently. Passkeys are considered a more secure alternative to passwords for logging into online accounts. They eliminate the need to store passwords on devices, making them less prone to theft.
Passkeys also provide multifactor authentication in one step, removing the need for passwords or one-time passcodes. They use biometrics like face or fingerprint scans for user verification.
Android users can easily and securely log back in with passkeys 🔑 only your face, finger print, or pin unlocks your WhatsApp account pic.twitter.com/In3OaWKqhy
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) October 16, 2023
This new login method aligns with WhatsApp’s increased focus on boosting security and privacy for its billions of users. Passkeys enhance account security as the authentication credentials are stored on the device rather than on a server.
Also Read: WhatsApp for iPad is now available for some users
The feature has been enabled in the latest WhatsApp for Android update. Users can now utilize passkeys to securely log into their WhatsApp account, adding an extra layer of protection.
WhatsApp is not the first to adopt passkeys. Google has been a leading proponent of this technology and implemented it for signing into personal Google accounts.
The adoption by WhatsApp signals the growing popularity of passkeys as a truly passwordless and more secure authentication standard. As one of the world’s most used messaging platforms, WhatsApp can drive wider mainstream adoption of passkeys.
This also ties into parent company Meta’s vision of bringing passkey support across its family of apps including Facebook and Instagram. WhatsApp adding the feature is a step in that direction.
As users become more aware of passkey benefits, it could accelerate the demise of vulnerable password-based login and usher in a new era of highly secure passwordless authentication for online services. WhatsApp supporting passkeys is a positive indicator of this trend.
