Passkeys, an online identification method that other large technology companies such as Google or Apple have already adopted, offer a way to log in that does not require alphanumeric passwords, which may be at risk in the event of a data leak or hack.
After introducing passkeys into its system last year, the e-commerce giant Amazon announced this Tuesday that 175 million customers have already configured a passkey to log in to their account, thus replacing traditional text passwords.
“We are delighted to be one of the first to adopt this new authentication method, which will help us realize our vision of a more secure, password-free Internet,” said Dave Treadwell, senior vice president of e-commerce at Amazon. .
Using this method to log in to this and other platforms can exponentially improve the security of our accounts. This is because traditional passwords are much more exposed to risks, such as leaks or data theft by a hacker.
Instead, passkeys use biometric identification methods or PIN keys that are much more difficult for cybercriminals to capture, and are often protected by Android or iPhone operating systems. Using a passkey is logging in with facial recognition or fingerprint, for example, although PIN codes can also be used.
As the company explains, “passwords are less susceptible to phishing attacks than passwords and one-time codes in text messages, making them a more secure option for our customers.” Today, Amazon allows the use of this type of access key when logging into browsers, Amazon Shopping applications for iOS and Android, and the apps for its Audible podcast and audiobook service.
How to set up a passkey on your Amazon account
If you do not already use passkeys on your Amazon account, and you have a device such as a smartphone or PC with facial or fingerprint recognition capabilities, you can configure yours to better protect your account on this platform. Unauthorized access to our Amazon account can seriously put our personal information at risk, while through the history of previous orders a cybercriminal could obtain information about our home address, mobile phone or our payment methods.
To establish a passkey in our Amazon account, we can go to the Login and Security section within the Your Amazon Account tab, and click on Edit in the “Access Key” section. Remember that you can also use 2MFA or two-factor authentication to receive an SMS message or email that always verifies your identity before logging in.
Likewise, it must be clarified that a passkey is not the same as the password autocomplete functions that several browsers support, which allow us to automatically enter our password using our fingerprint.
