Skip to main content

Firefox 60 is the first browser to support password-free internet logins

The latest version of Firefox “Quantum,” version 60.0, is out, and with it arrives support for password-free logins on the internet. This is made possible by the Web Authentication standard and USB-based security keys like Yubico’s YubiKey devices. Chrome 67 will reportedly offer support later this month, followed by Microsoft Edge. 

“WebAuthn is a set of anti-phishing rules that uses a sophisticated level of authenticators and cryptography to protect user accounts,” Mozilla explains. “It supports various authenticators, such as physical security keys today, and in the future mobile phones, or biometric mechanisms such as face recognition or fingerprints.”

Recommended Videos

Yubico offers a variety of standard YubiKeys spanning your typical USB-A and USB-C models that remain plugged into your PC (full-size or nano). Meanwhile, the “Neo” models hook onto your car keys and sport USB-A and NFC connectivity for PCs and Android phones. Yubico’s “FIPS” models are built specifically for government and regulated industries. 

With Firefox and a YubiKey in hand, you can create a web-based account using a one-time registration token. The next time you log into that account, you won’t need to enter a password as long as the authenticator is present. Eventually with support for face recognition and fingerprint scanning, all you’ll need is your pretty face or finger. 

The benefits of using WebAuthn are tremendous for web surfers. Because it uses encrypted public and private keys, there are no passwords stored in a website’s database. Even more, there’s no password for hackers to scoop on a compromised website, and nothing to intercept as data passes from your PC to the website. 

The goal is to authenticate account owners using something that’s physically unique, like their face or fingerprint, and not with letters, numbers, and characters hackers could eventually discover. The standard also wasn’t meant to rely on devices you own for authentication, but they have to suffice for now. 

That said, don’t start deleting your passwords just yet. WebAuthn is in its early rollout stages and currently only supports desktop web browsers. But once WebAuthn supports smartphones, switching over from the current two-factor authentication systems is expected to be quick and painless for developers and companies. 

Outside new support for WebAuthn, the latest Firefox release provides a wider layout on new tabs, a larger “Top Sites” menu sporting eight icons, and larger “Highlights” icons. The Pocket’s recommendation section now displays an occasional sponsored story as well. Mozilla claims recommendations take place locally on your PC, and thus Mozilla, Pocket, and the associated sponsors aren’t receiving a copy of your browsing history and making recommendations based on that data. 

For the enterprise, Firefox 60 now enables IT to customize the browser for the office. Customization can be performed using the Group Policy tool on Windows, or through a JSON file supporting Mac, Linux, and Windows. There’s also a choice of deploying the Rapid Release build that auto-updates roughly every six weeks, or the Extended Support Release that updates once per year. These updates include new features and performance improvements. 

Kevin Parrish
Kevin started taking PCs apart in the 90s when Quake was on the way and his PC lacked the required components. Since then…
This compact HP Omen gaming PC is on sale at 39% off today
The HP Omen 16L gaming desktop sitting on a desk.

For those who want a proper gaming desktop but don't have enough space for a big and bulky machine, the HP Omen 16L could be what you need. You're in luck because it's on sale from the gaming PC deals of HP right now, with this configuration featuring the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card available at 39% off. You'll only have to pay $800 instead of its original price of $1,330, but you need to push through with your purchase immediately if you want to make sure you pocket the savings of $530.

Why you should buy the HP Omen 16L gaming PC

Read more
SpaceX’s Starlink rival is about to launch more internet satellites — here’s how to watch
Amazon's KA-01 mission for Project Kuiper gets underway from the Space Coast.

[UPDATE: A technical issue with the rocket has caused the launch to be postponed. We'll update this article with the new launch schedule just as soon as it becomes available.]

Amazon is preparing to launch its second batch of Project Kuiper internet satellites to orbit as it seeks to build out a constellation to take on SpaceX’s Starlink service.

Read more
Weird Mac mini issue prompts Apple to take action
A top-down view of the Mac Mini.

Following multiple reports of specific Mac mini computers failing to power on, Apple has launched a global repair program to sort the problem out.

Apple launched the  M2 Mac mini in January 2023, though the affected units were made between June 16 and November 23 of 2024, according to a notice about the repair program that was first spotted by MacRumors.

Read more