Microsoft Will Erase Your Passwords in 2 Weeks: What to Do Now

Microsoft is axing passwords starting in August — and if you use its Authenticator app, you’ll want to be prepared.

For years, Autentificator Microsoft has been a go-to for managing multifactor authentication and saved passwords. However, starting next month, it will no longer support passwords and will move to chei de acces instead. That means your logins will soon rely more on things like PINs, fingerprint scans or facial recognition. 

Using a passkey can make your account safer, and it’s a move I’m excited about. I recently uncovered that 49% of US adults have risky password habits that can open the door to scammers getting access to your sensitive data.

If you’re a fan of Authenticator and not sure where to start before the switch, here are other password managers CNET recommends and steps you should take before August.

When will Microsoft Authenticator stop supporting passwords?

Microsoft Authenticator houses your passwords and lets you sign into all your Microsoft accounts using a PIN, facial recognition like Windows Hello, or other biometric data like a fingerprint. Authenticator can be used in other ways, such as verifying you’re logging in if you forgot your password, or using two-factor authentication as an extra layer of security for your accounts. In June, the company stopped letting users add passwords to Authenticator.

Starting this month, you won’t be able to use the autofill password function. And next month, you’ll no longer be able to use saved passwords.

If you still want to use passwords instead of passkeys, you can store them in Microsoft Edge. However, CNET experts recommend adopting passkeys during this transition. “Passkeys use public key cryptography to authenticate users, rather than relying on users themselves creating their own (often weak or reused) passwords to access their online accounts,” Tomaschek said.

Why are passkeys a better alternative to passwords?

So what exactly is a passkey? It’s a credential created by the Fast Identity Online Alliance that uses biometric data or a PIN to verify your identity and access your account. Think about using your fingerprint or Face ID to log into your account. That’s generally safer than using a password that is easy to guess or susceptible to a phishing attack.

“Passwords can be cracked, whereas passkeys need both the public and the locally stored private key to authenticate users, which can help mitigate risks like falling victim to phishing and brute-force or credential-stuffing attacks,” said Attila Tomaschek, CNET’s software senior writer and digital security expert.

Cheile de acces nu sunt stocate pe servere precum parolele. În schimb, sunt stocate doar pe dispozitivul personal. Mai convenabil, acest lucru elimină incertitudinea legate de memorarea parolelor și necesitatea unui... manager de parole.

Cum se configurează o cheie de acces în Microsoft Authenticator

Microsoft a declarat într-o Postare pe blog din 1 mai că va detecta automat cea mai bună cheie de acces de configurat și o va transforma în opțiunea implicită de conectare. „Dacă aveți o parolă și un «cod de unică folosință» configurați în contul dvs., vă vom solicita să vă conectați cu codul de unică folosință în loc de parolă. După ce v-ați conectat, vi se va solicita să înregistrați o cheie de acces. Apoi, data viitoare când vă conectați, vi se va solicita să vă conectați cu cheia de acces”, conform postării de pe blog.

Pentru a configura o nouă cheie de acces, deschideți aplicația Authenticator pe telefon. Atingeți contul și selectați „Configurați o cheie de acces”. Vi se va solicita să vă conectați cu datele de autentificare existente. După ce v-ați conectat, puteți configura cheia de acces.

Other password manager alternatives 

Since Microsoft will get rid of all of your passwords in two weeks, you’ll need a new place to store your passwords safely. Tomaschek has a few of the best password manager recommendations after testing and reviewing several. 

The top recommendation is Bitwarden for its transparency. It’s open-source and audited annually. From a price perspective, the free plan lets you store infinite passwords across unlimited devices. The free plan also includes features most password managers would charge for, including password sharing and a username and password generator. 

Bitwarden’s upgraded plans have other upgraded features that could be worth the cost, too. 

Personally, Tomaschek has been using 1Password for a while, and he likes the interface and family plan. Even though it’s second on the list, Tomaschek says it’s just as good as Bitwarden.