On Thursday, Google introduced a new Password Manager PIN feature that allows Chrome users to sync their passkeys across multiple devices, including Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, and Android.
“This PIN adds an additional layer of security to ensure your passkeys are end-to-end encrypted and can’t be accessed by anyone, not even Google,” said Chirag Desai, Chrome’s product manager.
By default, the PIN is a six-digit code, but users can opt for a longer, alphanumeric PIN by selecting “PIN options.”
Previously, passkeys could only be saved to Google Password Manager on Android. Although users could use passkeys on other platforms, they had to scan a QR code using the device where the passkeys were originally generated. The new update simplifies the process, enabling users to log into services with passkeys by scanning their biometrics.
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Google has announced that iOS support will be coming soon.
To use passkeys on a new device, users must enter either their Password Manager PIN or the screen lock for their Android device. “These recovery factors will allow you to securely access your saved passkeys and sync new ones across your computers and Android devices,” Desai added.
This update follows Google’s announcement that, as of May 2024, over 400 million Google accounts are using passkeys. In July, Google made passkeys available to high-risk users through its Advanced Protection Program (APP) as a phishing-resistant alternative.
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