October 23, 2023 at 04:03PM
Amazon has announced the introduction of passkeys for signing into user accounts, following other tech companies in moving away from traditional passwords. Passkeys use biometrics like fingerprints or facial recognition, as well as pins, for increased security. Users can manually set up passkeys in the app’s Login & Security settings, and while passwords are still default, passkeys are preferred by users. Concerns regarding the potential spread of personal biometric data have been raised.
Key takeaways from the meeting notes:
– Amazon has announced the use of passkeys as an alternative to passwords for signing into customer accounts.
– Passkeys utilize biometric information such as fingerprints or face recognition, as well as pins, to enhance security.
– Passkeys require the user’s actual device for authentication, making them more secure against phishing scams.
– Amazon users will have to manually set up passkeys in the app’s Login & Security settings for now.
– Google has already made passkeys the default for personal Google accounts, putting Amazon slightly behind.
– Amazon has also implemented a palm-reading payment system at Whole Foods, further embracing biometric authentication.
– Other companies like TikTok, Nintendo, and Paypal are also transitioning away from traditional passwords and towards biometrics.
– The use of passkeys raises concerns about the potential for widespread misuse of biometric data.
– 23andMe recently experienced a biometric data hack, with the company attributing it to weak user passwords.