PayPal, an online payment company, has unveiled its support for Passkeys, a new feature for Android smartphone users. This feature is intended to improve user security and facilitate safe access to the PayPal service. According to the company, users of Chrome browser on Android 9 and higher versions can now create a Passkey to access their account without the need to remember or enter their password. Although passwords will still be available as an option, Passkeys will pave the way for a password-free future for Android users.
Passkeys is a novel technology that enables users to log into their accounts without requiring passwords. When a user logs in for the first time, two secure keys are created that link the user to the website or application. The first is a private key that is kept on the user’s device and is not shared with anyone, and the second is a public key that is sent to the server of the site that the user wants to access. The public and private keys are used to verify the user’s identity when logging in.
The public and private keys are mathematically related to one another in a way that allows servers to confirm the user’s identity without transmitting the private key over the Internet. The public key that is stored on the server is of no value to potential hackers if they manage to obtain it. Both keys are automatically generated, and the user does not have to memorize or be aware of them.
This authentication process is handled by an authenticator, which can be the user’s phone or a password manager app. The authentication authority can be secured through a master password or biometric security techniques such as a fingerprint or a face photo.
Currently, the Passkeys feature is only accessible to users in the United States, according to the company, but it will be available to all users worldwide in the next few months. To establish a Passkey for the PayPal service, the user must first log in using their regular password, and the “Create Passkeys” option will emerge. Following the creation of the Passkey, users can log in using biometric security methods such as a fingerprint or a face photo.
