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Apple’s entrance into the world of passkeys began with iOS 16, which marked the introduction of this technology within the ecosystem. By the time iOS 17 rolled out, Apple had seamlessly woven passkey support for Apple ID and started allowing third-party apps such as NordPass to manage passkeys on mobile devices.
Now Apple users no longer need to remember their Apple ID password and can access and use passkeys outside the ecosystem, on any device, at any time.
This progression isn’t just about technological milestones. It paints a picture of a future where our digital interactions are both more secure and more intuitive.
Today we’ll unpack the nuances of the passkey technology and explore and showcase how easy it is to enable, store, and manage passkeys on the NordPass iOS app.
How passkeys work
Before we get into the ins and outs of passkeys, let’s start with passwords. Passwords, while familiar, come with a set of challenges, issues, and potential risks. Weak or reused passwords have been behind more than 80% of security breaches in the past few years. Passkey technology, however, offers a much more secure and hand alternative to traditional passwords.
At the heart of this technology is a dual-key mechanism. When you opt for a service that supports passkey authentication, two cryptographic keys work in tandem: a public key, which is stored on the service’s server, and a private key, kept securely on your device. The beauty of this pairing is its dependency — one key is ineffective without the other.
The authentication process is multi-layered. During login, the server sends a request to your device, which responds with the corresponding passkey. Your identity is then verified at the device level, often through extra layers of authenticity such as biometrics like Face ID or Touch ID. Access is granted only when both keys match and biometric verification succeeds.
This approach offers enhanced security on multiple fronts. Passkeys are resilient to phishing and eliminates the issues of password reuse or forgetfulness. Yes, with passkeys you don’t need to remember or type out crazy strings of characters. The added layer of biometric verification ensures that even if your device is compromised, your data remains out of reach. Passkeys are here and they are taking over for good reason.
How to enable passkeys on iOS devices
With the introduction of iOS 17, Apple has made it even more convenient for users to embrace the security of passkeys. Integrating this feature into your daily routine is simple, especially with the help of NordPass. Keep in mind that support for passkey management on NordPass is available only for devices running iOS17 and iPad OS17 or later.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to enabling passkeys of your iOS device:
Download and install NordPass on your iOS devices.
Go to the “Settings” on your device.
Scroll down and select “Passwords.”
Authenticate your identity as prompted.
Now, tap on “Password options.”
Browse and select “NordPass.” A checkmark will appear, indicating it’s enabled.
Finalize the process by unlocking the NordPass vault.
That’s it, you’ve enabled passkey-based authentication on your iOS device.
How to save and use passkeys with NordPass on iPhone
Harnessing the power of passkeys through NordPass on your iPhone is a step towards a more secure and smooth online experience. This feature simplifies the login process, ensuring both convenience and protection. Here’s how you can make the most of it.
Saving a passkey in NordPass:
Navigate through websites or apps as you typically do.
Be attentive to sites or apps offering passwordless login options.
When presented with an option to use a passkey or integrate one into an account, choose it.
A NordPass prompt will emerge, guiding you to save the passkey.
Follow the provided steps to ensure it’s securely stored.
Logging in with a stored passkey:
Access the website or app where you’ve saved the passkey.
Select the passwordless login feature.
NordPass will prompt you to use the stored passkey.
Adhere to the on-screen guidelines to authenticate and access your account seamlessly.
By joining the passkey revolution, you position yourself at the center of the seamless and secure online life. Try it today!
How to manage passkeys in NordPass
Navigating the online world can be a daunting experience. However, with the introduction of passkeys, the process has become not only more secure but also more user-friendly and instant. Let’s delve into how you can manage passkeys using NordPass.
What can you do with a passkey in NordPass?
View passkey creation date. NordPass allows you to see when a particular passkey was created. This feature provides an added layer of transparency, ensuring you always know the age of your digital keys.
Share passkeys safely. With NordPass, sharing passkeys is quick and intuitive. Whether it’s for business or personal use, you can securely share your passkeys with trusted individuals without compromising security.
Add secure notes. Alongside your passkeys, NordPass provides the option to add secure notes. This feature is especially useful for adding extra information or reminders related to a particular service or account.
Why choose NordPass for passkey management?
NordPass isn’t just another password manager. It’s a comprehensive digital life manager for those on the go. With the introduction of passkeys, NordPass further pushes the envelope of what a password manager can be.
All NordPass users can now store and manage passkeys, ensuring they can access apps and websites securely. NordPass also syncs your passkeys across all devices and operating systems. Unlike many other password managers, NordPass offers seamless sharing of passkeys, making it a top choice for those who prioritize both security and convenience.
Furthermore, NordPass is actively working towards a passwordless future. We support passkey storage but are also in the process of introducing passwordless access to the NordPass app. This means you will soon be able to access your Nord Account and NordPass with just a tap, thanks to biometrics.
In a rapidly evolving online world, it’s crucial to stay ahead of the curve. With NordPass, you are not only equipped with the latest in security technology but are also prepared for the inevitable shift towards a passwordless future.
Login experience
Now that you’re signed-up for an online service with a passkey, logging in is quick, easy and secure. All you need to do is tap the suggested passkey for that account and you are logged in.
How do passkeys work?
Understanding passkeys and how this technology works can be somewhat tricky, mostly because passwords have been an integral part of our digital lives for so long. So first let’s recap the old and familiar before getting into passkeys. By the end we should understand the whole passkeys vs. passwords deal and why passkeys are the way of the future.
Password technology explained
Passwords — we know them all too well, and most of us have some idea of how they work. But let’s quickly recap.
Password-based authentication is relatively simple and straightforward. Say you create a password for a new online account. That password is then stored in an encrypted format on a server. When you use the password to access that account, the system compares the password you enter with the one in its database. If the two match — you’re good to go.
Simple, right? Well the catch is that this kind of user authentication presents quite a few serious security concerns. People tend to reuse simple and easy-to-crack passwords for multiple accounts, which is a hacker’s dream — crack a single account and you have access to a person’s entire digital life. Databases that store passwords can be breached. In fact, Verizon’s Data Breach Report notes that up to 80% of successful breaches are attributed to weak or stolen passwords.
Passkey technology explained
You can think of passkeys as a new and improved type of password. Both are used to verify a user’s identity upon sign up and login. However, the technology behind passkeys operates in a different way.
Whenever you sign up for an online service which supports passkey authentication, two keys are generated — public and private, both of which are used to authenticate the user when logging in.
The public key is stored in the website’s server, while the private key is stored on your device, whether it’s a phone, tablet, desktop, or laptop. Without each other the two keys are useless.
Upon logging in, the server sends a request to your device, and that request is then answered by a related passkey. The user’s identity is also verified on the device level via biometrics. Finally if the pair of keys match you’re granted access to your account.
Passkeys are widely considered to be a more secure and convenient form of authentication compared to passwords, as they reduce the risk of forgetting or reusing passwords. Passkeys are also resistant to phishing attacks as they can’t be stolen from your device by a third-party.
Store passkeys with NordPass
All NordPass users now have the ability to store and manage passkeys in NordPass and use them to access apps and websites. NordPass syncs your passkeys across all of your devices as well as operating systems and enables you to safely share passkeys whenever needed. It is important to note that sharing passkeys is not as easy with alternative systems as it is with NordPass.
We’re excited to let you know that with the release of iOS 17, passkey storage is now available on NordPass app for iOS devices. This is a monumental step for us, ensuring that you, our users, enjoy a seamless experience across all platforms and devices.
In addition to mobile access, you can also reach your passkeys on NordPass via the desktop app, web vault, Firefox, and Chrome-based browser extensions. We’re also thrilled to share that support for the Safari extension is on the priority list and will be launched later this year.
Password managers are highly reliant on platform vendors when it comes to passkey technology. Therefore, we welcome the latest move from Apple because it serves as a huge milestone in replacing passwords with more advanced online authentication solutions. With tech giants allowing third-party integrations, internet users will get more user-friendly services and, as a result, will be more keen to stick to using passkeys
– Sorin Manole,
Product Strategist @ NordPass
About Version 2 Digital
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
About NordPass
NordPass is developed by Nord Security, a company leading the global market of cybersecurity products.
The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.
