At a time when more and more individuals and professionals are becoming aware of cyber-attacks, and where phishing attempts are said to have increased by 58% according to the latest public figures, passwords are at the heart of our habits...
And yet, Microsoft has just made an announcement that goes against this practice. Indeed, in a press release last Thursday signed by Joy Chik and Vasu Jakkal, in charge of Microsoft Security, the company is reportedly removing passwords for new accounts...
A new step for Microsoft...
This is not the first time that Microsoft has made highly controversial decisions in the field of cybersecurity. In 2019, a Windows 10 update that allowed users to log in without a password was a hot topic among experts.
Microsoft even took the opportunity to drive the point home in 2021, allowing users who wanted to remove their Microsoft account password.
With this new update, Microsoft is saying goodbye to passwords for new accounts for good. Indeed, while current users will still have access to their current password, new accounts will no longer be able to create one.
Replacements for passwords?
Obviously, if Microsoft has decided to get rid of passwords once and for all, it is not without thinking of a fallback solution...
In the press release published on the Microsoft Security website, we learn in particular that the company now prefers to focus on other login methods.
Among them, new users will be able to log in with a "passkey" (a unique access code), push notifications, or even security keys as a last resort.
An outdated tool in the face of new technologies...
For a long time, the password has established itself as the most secure method for protecting sensitive information or connections to certain services.
However, these are now being questioned, and they could well be living their last years. A few weeks ago, a study conducted by Hive Systems had already shown that few passwords were able to resist hackers.
Moreover, with the arrival of quantum computing, which sees its processing capacities increase tenfold, recovering a password could prove even easier for malicious people. But if this context allows us to better understand Microsoft's decision, it remains to be seen how the news will be received by users...
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