The traditional password system is due for a serious shakeup. Because so many people choose utterly boneheaded passwords that are easily hacked, websites are increasingly requiring more complex passwords that get more difficult to remember every time we change them. However, a new report from ZDNet says that a potentially revolutionary fix for this annoying problem is coming in Windows 10.
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The big change here is that Microsoft is for the first time supporting the Fast Online Identity (FIDO) standard that ZDNet says will “enable password-free sign-on for a number of applications.” FIDO is something that’s been in the works for years now and has attracted the support of not only Microsoft but also Google, Samsung, Lenovo and LG, among other industry heavyweights.
So what will replace passwords? Per ZDNet, FIDO’s big focus seems to be on biometrics such as “face, voice, iris, and fingerprint” sensors like the fingerprint scanner found on Apple’s Touch ID systems. FIDO is also working on a password dongle that could essentially act as a skeleton key for all of your online accounts.
This doesn’t mean passwords will be completely gone from our lives anytime soon, of course, but it does seem like the start of a transition to something new.
Be sure to read ZDNet’s full report on Windows 10’s password-disrupting tech by clicking here.
