Staying Safe Online: Passkeys & Extra Security (2FA)
Think of your online accounts (like your email or banking) as your digital home. For years, we have used passwords as the keys to the front door. But today, cybercriminals have become very good at guessing, stealing, or tricking us out of our passwords.
To keep your information safe, tech companies have created two newer, much safer ways to lock your digital doors.
- Extra Security / Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
- What it is: Think of this like a deadbolt lock on your front door. Even if a thief steals your main key (your password), they still can’t get in without unlocking the deadbolt.
- How it works: When you type in your password on a new computer, the website will pause and ask for a second piece of proof that it’s really you. Usually, it sends a temporary code to your mobile phone or a special security app.
- Why it helps: A scammer halfway across the world might guess your password, but they won’t have your physical mobile phone in their hand to get that second code. It stops them completely in their tracks.
- Passkeys (The New, Better Way)
- What it is: Passkeys are like replacing your old physical door keys with a modern fingerprint or facial recognition scanner.
- How it works: Instead of typing a long, confusing password that you have to remember, you log in using the exact same method you use to unlock your phone or tablet—like your fingerprint, a face scan (Face ID), or your device’s four-digit PIN.
- Why it helps:
- Nothing to remember: You don’t have to write down or forget complicated words and symbols anymore.
- Impossible to steal: There is no password for a hacker to steal from the website, and you can’t accidentally give it away to a scammer.
- Fake-proof: If you accidentally click a link to a fake website that looks like your bank, a passkey is smart enough to know it’s a fake and will refuse to log in, protecting you from scams.
The Bottom Line
- Wherever possible, switching to Passkeys makes your life easier and much safer.
- If a website doesn’t offer passkeys yet, using a password combined with Extra Security (2FA) is your next best shield.
Get it touch if you need help checking or setting these up on your accounts.