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Google users have just had a useful update added to Google Password Manager, with the new ability to allow the syncing of passkeys across several devices.
Before this new release, passkeys could only be saved on Android, with cross-device usage being extremely limited. While you could use them on other devices, you had to jump through hoops and scan a QR code using an Android device.
Unlike passwords, passkeys are cryptographic key pairs specific to a website. One half is shared with the website and the other is stored on a device or a password manager.
To authenticate access, a code is generated each time you want to sign in with the intention of this being safer from hackers as the code cannot be reused and is hard to guess.
Passkeys can now be saved to Google Password Manager from Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, with ChromeOS available for testing in beta. Support for iOS has also been described as coming soon.
Once saved, the passwords will be automatically synced across all devices signed into the same account.
The Google team announced the change through a news release on Thursday (Sep. 19), stating that “signing into your favorite sites and apps on any device should be as quick and easy as unlocking your phone.”
Extra layer of security added to Google Password Manager
To maintain security, a PIN code has been added to “ensure your passkeys are end-to-end encrypted and can’t be accessed by anyone, not even Google.
“When you start using passkeys on a new device, you’ll need to know either your Google Password Manager PIN, or the screen lock for your Android device.
“These recovery factors will allow you to securely access your saved passkeys and sync new ones across your computers and Android devices.”
The updates started being rolled out on Thursday, with Google writing that this change moves “us one step closer to a passwordless future.”
Featured Image: Via Google Keyword Blog
