For years, we’ve been hearing about “the end of passwords.” Windows 10 might actually deliver on that promise by offering password-free sign on through the Fast Identity Online standard.
For years, security researchers have warned that passwords are the weakest part of tech security. They’ve told us to make up meaningless passwords like ASD#(JNVZLa’dla’df to make sure our accounts are uncrackable.
We’ve already seen new smartphones use fingerprint scanning technology. The future may bring even more biometric scanners to the forefront. Face, voice, iris, and fingerprint scanners are just a few of the “passwords of the future.”
This is where Fast Identity Online (Fido) standards come in. Fido is a standardization system supported by some of the world’s largest companies, including Samsung, VISA, PayPal, RSA, Lenovo, ARM, Google, and Bank of America. Now, Microsoft has added its support to the cause.
Microsoft recently announced that the company created design inputs that will be compatible with the upcoming Fido 2.0 technical standards.
Windows 10 will fully integrate Fido standards directly into the OS. Fido aims to create a universal framework for password-free authentication. That means better face, voice, iris, and fingerprint scanners.
Here’s what Microsoft had to say about its Fido 2.0 implementation in Windows 10:
“With Windows 10, for the very first time Windows devices and Microsoft-owned and partner SaaS services supported by Azure Active Directory authentication can be accessed end-to-end using an enterprise-grade two-factor authentication solution – all without a password,”
In other words, Windows 10 will not only be more secure – it will break our reliance on passwords.
In the future, you might be able to walk up to your computer and have it automatically sign in after scanning your iris. How cool is that?