The presentation of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 at WWDC last June also included new features such as Access Keys, a new way of dealing with security keys following the protocols of the FIDO alliance. The purpose of these access keys is the removal of passwords as we know them today, to avoid memorizing infinite complex keys that we always forget. For this, iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 have Passkeys, support for this new type of keys designed by FIDO/WC3 which are managed directly from the operating system. However, the password manager 1Password has already announced that it will become compatible with Passkeys access keys in 2023 to manage them from one place.
More security and access control with Passkeys in 1Password
Access keys should be understood as something we don’t see that are used as passwords. Let’s analyze its structure. An access key is made up of a pair of keys that increases the access security to a certain account. One of these keys is public and is the one that the system applies when registering a certain account. The other key is private and is saved directly and only on your device. Through cryptographic keys and methods, the public key needs the private key to access a certain account. And the private key is only available on one device.
However, to access this private key, user authentication is required in the same way that we identify ourselves to make a contactless payment. An unlock code, Touch ID or Face ID will suffice to access the private key. Although Passkeys have many advantages, as always the native option of iOS might be better to manage all those passkeys. That’s why 1Password, the well-known password manager, will be updated throughout 2023 to manage Passkeys directly from your app:
Imagine being able to do things online without passwords getting in your way. Access Keys unlock a new, easier way to sign in that works anywhere, on any device, anywhere in the world. Access Keys will be coming to 1Password in early 2023, but today we’re excited to share a preview with you.
You can find out all the reasons and benefits of Passkeys coming to 1Password on a website they created just for it. Additionally, they showed a small preview of what the 1Password interface will look like with the launch of this big change. throughout the year 2023. Finally, we can also test it in beta mode by registering on the same site.
