A recent study has shown that more than one in three people have had at least one of their online accounts broken into during the past year. The main reason? Poor or stolen passwords.
The report comes from the FIDO Alliance, a group that focuses on improving online safety. Their findings reveal that passwords are still a major weak spot in keeping digital accounts secure.
People Struggle with Passwords
The research found that 36% of people had their accounts hacked because their passwords were either easy to crack or already leaked online. Many users still rely on passwords that are short, simple, or reused across different accounts. These habits make it easier for cybercriminals to gain access.
Forgetting passwords is another common issue. Nearly half of the participants said they gave up making a purchase online because they couldn’t remember their password.
What Are Passkeys and Why Are They Safer?
To fix the problem with passwords, many websites and apps are now supporting a new method called passkeys. These don’t require typing anything in. Instead, you can log in using your fingerprint, face scan, or a PIN stored on your device.
This system is safer because the login details never leave your phone or computer, and they don’t work on fake websites. This means scammers can’t trick people into handing over their login details like they do with traditional passwords.
According to the study, most people are now aware of this new method. Around 69% have already used passkeys on at least one of their accounts, and over a third said they’ve switched entirely to using them wherever possible.
Big Tech Companies Back Passkeys
On May 2, Microsoft said it is now letting all of its users log in with passkeys instead of passwords. The company admitted that passwords simply aren’t strong enough to protect people’s accounts, even if they’re long or frequently updated.
Microsoft users can now sign in using face ID, fingerprint, or PIN on devices from Windows, Apple, or Google.
Moving Away from Passwords Altogether
To raise awareness, FIDO has renamed its annual event “World Passkey Day.” The goal is to encourage companies and users to stop relying on passwords and start using safer login tools.
As part of the event, FIDO launched a pledge for businesses that want to commit to using passkeys. More than 100 organizations have already joined in.
FIDO’s leader, Andrew Shikiar, said the shift to better login methods is necessary. He explained that years of account hacks and data leaks have shown that traditional passwords no longer offer the protection we need in a digital world.
The study surveyed 1,389 adults from the US, UK, Japan, South Korea, and China.
