To celebrate World Password Day, which is celebrated this Thursday (02), Google announced a series of new features that aim to make the internet more secure through the use of “passkeys” (access keys).
Access keys were launched in 2022 and will now have some of their functionality expanded in an effort by Google to increase online security, reducing fraud.
Among the improvements is the expansion of Account Protection. This feature serves to protect access to non-Google accounts for the same user, even if another account has been compromised.
Access keys are a secure and convenient authentication method. (Image: Getty Images)Source: GettyImages
Google will soon adopt access keys as an extra authentication option in the Advanced Protection Program (APP), aimed at high-risk users, such as politicians, journalists, activists, etc.
The use of passkeys will also be expanded to mainstream users as independent password manager vendors take advantage of password management APIs in Android and other operating systems.
Finally, the use of access keys should continue to grow, as Google closes new partnerships with industry giants, which are companies that have a huge user base.
Access keys are good, but not available on all services
Access keys are a great online authentication option due to their high efficiency. However, the feature is not yet available for all services. There are several cases where conventional passwords are still necessary.
Therefore, it is worth checking out some tips for creating secure passwords, as warned by Check Point Software Brasil, a cybersecurity solutions company:
- Create long and complex passwords: passwords with 12 to 16 characters are more secure, especially when they mix numbers, letters and symbols. From 18 characters onwards, passwords are almost unbreakable;
- Avoid the use of personal data: it is prudent not to use data such as birthdays, wedding dates, house numbers, document numbers and the like in your passwords;
- Create unique passwords for different services: this prevents more than one account from being compromised in the event of intrusions;
- Update your passwords periodically: Doing this prevents passwords from being compromised in data leaks;
- Two-factor authentication: This feature drastically reduces the possibility of an account being hacked, even when the password has already been discovered.
Passwords banned in the UK
Like it or not, conventional passwords are still widely used in the daily lives of billions of users globally. But the resource, when misused, is one of the biggest security holes in the online world.
Very common passwords, considered insecure, are now banned in the United Kingdom. (Image: Getty Images)Source: GettyImages
Therefore, since last Monday (29), a law came into force in the United Kingdom that prevents the use of some very popular passwords, which are already considered extremely insecure. These are the passwords banned in the UK:
- 123456;
- password;
- qwerty;
- Liverpool;
- 123456789;
- armory;
- 12345678;
- 12345;
- a B C 1 2 3;
- chelsea.
The new British digital security law obliges all manufacturers of devices that connect to the internet to adhere to the measure.
Tags: World Password Day Google announces features access keys
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