Difficult password practices can have serious consequences, and some businesses are changing their approach by ditching outdated password techniques and implementing&nbsp, passkeys&nbsp, in its place. Microsoft intends to do the same beginning in August. &nbsp,

If thieves get hold of it, whether it’s a simple login leak or one that was leaked during a business data breach, it could lead to identity theft and fraud. According to a new CNET survey, 49 % of US adults have dangerous password practices, including using the same password for several accounts and also including your name as part of your password.

What you need to know about the move and how to set up passkeys before the date if you use Microsoft Authenticator to keep your credentials. &nbsp,

After August &nbsp, Microsoft Authenticator didn’t help passwords.

Microsoft Authenticator now stores all of your passwords and enables you to access all of your Microsoft balances using PIN, facial recognition, Windows Hello, or other biometric data, such as fingerprints. Different methods of identification are available, such as logging in if you forget your password or implementing two-factor identification as a layer of additional protection for your Microsoft accounts. &nbsp,

Starting this month, how you use the software, according to Microsoft:

Microsoft announced that you won’t be able to increase passwords to the Authenticator application until June 2025. &nbsp,
• July 2025- You won’t be able to use the login login feature.
• You’ll no longer be allowed to apply saved passwords as of August 2025.

You can save passwords in Microsoft Edge if you still want to use them rather of passkeys. However, CNET experts advise using passkeys during this move. &nbsp,

Instead of relying on users themselves to create their own ( often weak or reused ) passwords to access their online accounts, said Attila Tomaschek, senior writer and expert on CNET software, “passkeys use public key cryptography to authenticate users.” &nbsp,

Why are passkeys preferable to credentials?

What exactly is a password, then? &nbsp,

The Fast Identity Online Alliance created a certificate that uses genetic or Lock to authenticate you and gain access to your accounts. Consider logging into your profile using your fingerprint or Face ID. That’s usually safer than entering a password that’s difficult to guess or prone to phishing attacks. &nbsp,

Passkeys may be cracked, whereas passkeys require both the consumer and the locally stored secret code to authenticate users, which can help reduce the chances of phishing and brute-force or credential-stuffing attacks, Tomaschek continued. &nbsp,

Passkeys are not like credentials, which are not stored on machines. They are just stored on your individual device, though. More quickly, this eliminates the need for a password manager and the guesswork from remembering your passwords. &nbsp,

How to configure a password in Microsoft Authenticator

In a blog post from May 1, Microsoft stated that it will automatically choose the best login and set that as your default sign-in option. &nbsp,

We’ll enable you to sign in with your one-time password instead of your password if you have a login and a “one-time code” set up on your profile. You’ll be asked to sign up for a password once you’ve signed in. Therefore, according to the site blog, you’ll be asked to sign in with your passkey the next time you sign in.

Start your Authenticator app on your phone to set up a new login. Find” Set up a password” from the drop-down menu on your profile. You’ll be asked to use your current certificates to register in. You can configure the password once you are logged in.