You may find it difficult to keep track of your passwords online.

It is possible to create long and complicated passwords. best deter cyber-thieves — especially for dozens of different online accounts — can be tedious. However, it is necessary to keep in mind the record numberData breaches occurred in the U.S. during the past year.

It’s tempting to imagine a world where no one has to update or change passwords online to keep up with hackers and data security. There are some good news. biggest names in techMany people believe that the day of password-free internet could soon be a reality. Apple, Google, and Microsoft are just a few of the companies that want to help.

You would need to verify your identity in order to gain access to your information and accounts. You wouldn’t need to memorize endless string of eight-character passwords (or more) but at least it would be easier.

Well, maybe not quite. It’s still not clear.

It is possible to remove passwords from your security equation and thus eliminate the former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff has called“By far the weakest link within cybersecurity.” Weak or compromised passwords are responsible for over 80% of data breaches according to Verizon.

September Microsoft announcedIt is possible for users to go completely passwordless in order to gain access services such as Windows, Xbox and Microsoft 365. Instead, Microsoft users have the option of using options such as Windows Hello or Microsoft Authenticator appsYou can log in using your fingerprints and facial recognition software.

Microsoft users can also log in with a code sent via email, phone or physical. a security key — resembling a USB drive — that plugs into your computer and features an encryption unique to you and your device.

Joy Chik was Microsoft’s vice-president of identity and wrote about it in a September article company blog postThese tools include two-factor authentication have helped improve users’ account security in recent years — but hackers can still find ways around those extra measures. She wrote that passwords will always be a part of an account’s security equation.

Similarly, Google sells physical security keysThe. Smart Lock appAllows you to simply tap on an icon on your Android/iOS device to sign into your Google account online. These tools are part of Google’s efforts to “create a future in which you don’t have to use a password ever again,” the company stated.

Apple has used Touch ID, Face ID technology in its devices for years. It is still developing its Touch ID and Face ID features. Passkeys featureTo allow you to use the exact same facial recognition and fingerprint tools for creating your artwork password-less loginsFor apps and accounts for your iOS devices.

It is possible to see a future without passwords already in place. Microsoft says“Nearly 100% of employees” use passwordless methods to log in to their company accounts. But getting every company to offer password-less options to employees and customers will surely take some time – and it might be a while before everyone feels secure enough to dump passwords in favor of something new.

It’s not just the issue.

Hackers can intercept verification codes that are sent by email or SMS. It’s even scarier: Hackers can sometimes trick facial recognition and fingerprint systems. stealing your biometric data. Although changing passwords can be annoying, it is much more difficult to modify your fingerprints or face.

Second, many passwordless accounts today still require that you create a pin or answer security questions to backup your account. This is not different than having a password. This means that tech companies still haven’t perfected this technology.

The third issue is widespread adoption. This is As WiredLast year it was pointed out that most passwordless features need to be enabled on a smartphone, or another relatively recent device. While the majority of Americans have a smartphone, their internal hardware and age vary greatly.

Plus, tech companies still need to make online accounts accessible across multiple platforms, not just on smartphones — and also to the people who don’t own smartphones at all, roughly 15%The U.S.

It is likely that passwords will not disappear completely in the near future. You can still enjoy typing long and complex characters into your login boxes.

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