Subj : GitHub is bringing passkey support at last
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Fri Sep 22 2023 13:00:03

GitHub is bringing passkey support at last

Date:
Fri, 22 Sep 2023 11:52:25 +0000

Description:
GitHub jumps on the passwordless bandwagon with the general availability of 
passkey support for all account holders.

FULL STORY
======================================================================

After its beta trial, GitHub has now announced the general availability of 
passkeys for all users. 

In its blog post, the repository said that the implementation is part of its 
mission to, "[strengthen] security across the platformwithout compromising 
user experience." It also notes that it will continue to push forward with 
making 2FA mandatory for all accounts by the end of the year too. 

Passkeys allow users to sign in without needing a password. As well as 
increasing convenience, they are also believed to be more secure, as there 
are no credentials that can be phished for by bad actors - which is the most 
popular cyberthreat faced by business . A new trend emerging 

The news is the latest in a string of announcements from other firms 
declaring their support for passkeys too. Recently, it was found that 
WhatsApp looks set to adopt the passwordless technology , and since the 
release of Apple's iOS 17 for iPhone, password managers 1Password and 
NordPass have expanded their support for passkeys as well. 

Passkeys do away with passwords, instead relying on a pair of cryptographic 
keys - one in the cloud and one on device - to grant access to supported 
services. All that is needed to authenticate is whatever you use to lock your 
device - fingerprint, face, or PIN. Physical security keys can also be used. 

Thanks to cloud syncing, they can also be used across multiple devices. 
However, the lack of cross-platform support has been a criticism of passkey 
implementation, although this does seem as if it is being addressed. 

For instance, as GitHub says, "if youre a Chrome and Mac user, youll be able 
to access the iCloud keychain on Macs, in Chrome 118, meaning that a passkey 
created on your iOS device and synced to your Mac will now be usable within 
Chrome. This kind of cross-ecosystem support is critical to the free and open 
use of passkeys." 

Using a compatible third-party password manager will also make passkeys 
available across different platforms. 

Multiple passkeys can be registered on a single GitHub account. Users need to 
navigate to the security settings and click, "Add a passkey." For those using 
security keys, they will see "upgrade" instead, if the keys are compatible. 

GitHub noted, however, that during the beta, it learned that, "Linux and 
Firefox users struggled to use passkeys, as those platforms dont yet have 
strong support for passkeys." 

As a workaround to make those platforms compatible, GitHub, "decided to 
enable cross-device registration of passkeys. That means, you can register a 
passkey on your phone while youre using your desktop. The passkey lives in 
the phone, but users can connect it to their desktop and set-up and 
authenticate through the desktops browser." MORE FROM TECHRADAR PRO Here are 
the best password manager options What are Passkeys? Passwords are dead: how 
to set up a passkey for your Google or Gmail account



======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/github-is-bringing-passkey-support-at-l
ast


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64)
 * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)

.