Microsoft plans to purify passwords – here how to protect you

Microsoft is approaching a future -free future, and if you still use the authenticator application to manage log in, the big changes come quickly. Starting August 1, the application will not support passwords at all. This shift was already if the creation of a new password was disrupted in June, and automatic filling support was cut in July.

For years, Microsoft Authenticator has been a participation in multi -factor authentication management and saved passwords. But now, they are re -concentrated to support the corridors instead. This means that your login will soon rely on things like pins, fingerprint examination, or more secure face recognition, faster and difficult to steal than the standard password. If you are still reluctant to store the password, it’s time to transfer your data to another place before you disappear.

This is not a bad thing.

“Passwords can be cracked, while the keys need both the private key and the local key to authentication, which can help relieve risks such as the victim’s fall to hunting, brute attacks or capabilities of dependence,” said Thomaschik.

The corridors keys get rid of the risky password habits of 49 % of adults, such as using the same password for multiple accounts or using personal hints, according to CNET scanned. However, these comfortable hints can pose a greater danger to fraudsters, stealing identity and fraud.

If you are a fan of Authenticator and you are not sure where you start before switching, here is what you have to do before Microsoft moved on August 1.

When will Microsoft Authenticator stop supporting passwords?

Microsoft Authenticator It includes your passwords and allows you to log in in all your Microsoft accounts with a pin or face recognition like Windows Hello or other biometric data like a fingerprint. Authenticator can be used in other ways, such as checking the login if you forget your password, or use bilateral factors as an additional layer of safety for your accounts. In June, the company stopped allowing users to add passwords to ratification.

Starting this month, you will not be able to use the automatic password function. Next month, you are no longer able to use saved passwords.

If you still want to use passwords instead of corridors, you can store them in Microsoft Edge. However, CNET experts recommend adopting corridors during this transition. “The general KOMPHOGRAPHY keys are used to authenticate users, instead of relying on users themselves creating passwords (they are often weak or reusable) to reach their online accounts,” said Tomashk.

Why is it a better alternative to passwords?

So what exactly is the traffic key? It is the accreditation data created by the rapid alliance of the Internet that uses biometric data or the personal identification number to verify your identity and access your account. Consider using fingerprints or facial identifiers to log in to your account. This is generally safer than using a password that is easy to guess or vulnerable to hunting attack.

The corridors are not stored on servers like passwords. Instead, it is stored only on your personal device. More convenient, this takes guessing from remembering your passwords and the need for a Password Director.

How to prepare the traffic key in Microsoft Authenticator

Microsoft said in A. May 1 Publisher Blog It will automatically discover the best pass to set up your virtual login option. “If you have a password and prepare” one -time code “on your account, we will ask you to log in using one -time code instead of your password. After logging in, you will be asked to register the traffic key. Then the next time you log in, you will be asked to log in with your traffic key,” according to the blog’s participation.

To prepare a new traffic key, open the authentication app on your phone. Click on your account and select “Setting the Traffic Key”. You will be required to log in with your existing credentials. After logging in, you can prepare the traffic key.