NordPass adds passkey support to banish your weak passwords

By Alex Blake March 17, 2023

Weak passwords can put your online accounts at risk, but password manager NordPass thinks it has the solution. The app has just added support for passkeys, giving you a far more secure way to keep all your important logins safe and sound.

Instead of a vulnerable password, passkeys work by using your biometric data as your login ‘fingerprint.’ For example, you could use the Touch ID button on a Mac or a facial recognition scanner on your smartphone to log in to your account. No typing required.

password manager lifestyle image — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Now, NordPass can manage every passkey you create and store it for the future. The next time you want to log in to a website that uses passkeys, NordPass will present your saved passkey, letting you log in quickly and easily. The feature was teased in January but has now been rolled out fully.

Because NordPass offers apps on Mac, PC, iOS, Android, and Linux, it means you will be able to use its passkey feature on almost any platform you come across. That’s important in ensuring there are no gaps in your login security.

Better login security

A locked iPhone, showing the lock icon at the top of the screen. — Digital Trends

The benefit of using passkeys is that they remove some of the human error element. It’s difficult to create and remember complex passwords, and many people default to simplistic passwords and then use them on multiple accounts, thereby greatly increasing the risks to their secure data if one account gets compromised. You don’t need to remember a passkey, though, reducing the likelihood that you’ll cut corners and reduce your security.

NordPass is not the only app making moves in this area. Fellow password manager 1Password says it will support passkeys in “early 2023,” while there are several other apps and websites where you can use passkeys to log in, from Kayak to Best Buy.

In May 2022, Apple, Google, and Microsoft announced they were working together with the FIDO Alliance to build a better alternative to passwords, and passkeys are the result of that collaboration. If the project’s traction continues, weak logins like “Password123” could be a thing of the past.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Computing Writer

In ancient times, people like Alex would have been shunned for their nerdy ways and strange opinions on cheese. Today, he…

Mobile

Leaving LastPass? Here’s how to take all your passwords with you

LastPass

If you, like many of us, have been happily using LastPass's excellent free tier for the last few years, you're probably dismayed that LastPass is moving to change the way its free access works. From March 16, you'll only be able to sync your LastPass database between mobile devices or computers -- but not both. So if you want to keep accessing the same passwords on your phone and laptop, you'll have to pay up and join LastPass's premium subscription for $3 a month.

Of course, not everyone is wild to pay a subscription fee -- or has the free cash to do so. If that's you, you're probably looking for a password manager to replace LastPass. But you won't want to leave all your collected passwords and logins behind. Thankfully, you can quickly and easily export your LastPass passwords and login information and import them into your new password manager of choice. So go check out our list of the best password managers, then dive into our guide on how to leave LastPass and take your passwords with you.
Export your LastPass database
Now that you know you're moving from LastPass, the first step is to make sure you take everything with you. Thankfully, exporting your database from LastPass is simple. Unfortunately, there's no way to export your passwords from the mobile app, so you'll have to use a PC or Mac to complete this action.

Computing

Dropbox is conducting trials on a password manager service

Dropbox Passwords

Dropbox is expanding its line of cloud services with a new password manager. The company has (via AndroidPolice) quietly listed a new app titled Dropbox Passwords on the Android Play Store that lets you host your private credentials and sign into websites.

Based on the limited details available on the app’s Play Store page, Dropbox Passwords seems to come equipped with all the usual trappings of a password manager. You can store your accounts, sign in to other apps and websites with a click of a button, and more. Dropbox adds that the app offers “automatic syncing to all your devices” which likely suggests the company is also working on desktop and iOS clients.

Deals

Protect your privacy with Dashlane password manager, and how to sign up

dashlane privacy protection deal

You wouldn't walk down a road holding out a bundle of cash, personal ID, and shouting out passwords and personal identification numbers, so why would you do that online? Unfortunately, many people do exactly that when browsing online, and often unwittingly. While they wouldn't dream of revealing personal information to strangers in person, a lack of cybersecurity means they often do this simply by going about their business online. With nearly 60 million Americans affected by identity theft in 2017 alone, it's important to be secure with your browsing habits.

Knowing how to stay secure can be confusing which is why Dashlane
is the ideal solution for everyone, regardless of their technical prowess. It's a subscription-based software tool that makes it easy to manage everything about your online presence from password management to even spotting when an account is compromised, thereby keeping you secure from threats. We have an exclusive 25% off coupon for Digital Trends readers and here's exactly why you should take advantage of the offer, along with everything you need to know.
Try Dashlane Here