In the coming months, Chrome and other major web browsers will get support for a new way to sign in to websites, one that does not require a password.
The new standard targets to drive users away from current password-based systems, which leave users exposed to phishing attacks and other forms of stolen logon credential abuse.
Announced in a press release on April 10 by the FIDO Alliance (Fast IDentity Online) the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the new Web Authentication standard (WebAuthn) will allow users to move to the logins biometrics or verification using a USB security key.
The statement states that "Google, Microsoft and Mozilla have committed to the WebAuthn standard in their flagship browsers and have begun implementation for Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS and Android platforms." WebAuthn is currently in the Candidate Release stage, awaiting the approval of W3C.
MORE: the security of your router stinks: how to repair it
A development status page for WebAuthn in Chrome shows that it is scheduled to be enabled by default in version 67, two main releases from the current version 65. The standard is already compatible with Firefox, and Edge will get support in the coming months, according to The Verge.
The login through USB security keys is already widely compatible with products like the Yubikey by major websites like Facebook, Google and Bank of America.
"While there are many web security problems and we can not fix them all, trusting passwords is one of the weakest links," said W3C CEO Jeff Jaffe. "With the multi-factorial solutions of WebAuthn, we are eliminating this weak link"
Image credit: Tahuna2001 / Shutterstock
Chrome browser tips
How to reduce memory usage in Chrome
How to mute the noisy eyelashes in Chrome
Hide Chrome browsing from your boss
Enable guest browsing in Chrome
How to make Chrome more tactile
How to enable Do not crawl in Chrome
How to put Chrome in high contrast mode
Remove Chrome extensions
How to resume an interrupted download in Chrome
Protect yourself from spoilers with the Chrome browser
How to create desktop shortcuts for web pages with Chrome
How to use Chrome extensions in incognito mode
Disable (and enable) notifications in Chrome
How to use Chrome's built-in Task Manager
Add a start button to Chrome
How to change your default search engine in Chrome's Omnibox
Show frames per second in Chrome
Get Gmail notifications in Chrome
How to delete your Internet history in Chrome
How to stop Pop-Ups in Chrome
How to avoid the jump of the scroll bar
Change the download folder
Firefox Quantum versus Chrome
How to reduce memory usage in Chrome
How to mute the noisy eyelashes in Chrome
Hide Chrome browsing from your boss
Enable guest browsing in Chrome
How to make Chrome more tactile
How to enable Do not crawl in Chrome
How to put Chrome in high contrast mode
Remove Chrome extensions
How to resume an interrupted download in Chrome
Protect yourself from spoilers with the Chrome browser
How to create desktop shortcuts for web pages with Chrome
How to use Chrome extensions in incognito mode
Disable (and enable) notifications in Chrome
How to use Chrome's built-in Task Manager
Add a start button to Chrome
How to change your default search engine in Chrome's Omnibox
Show frames per second in Chrome
Get Gmail notifications in Chrome
How to delete your Internet history in Chrome
How to stop Pop-Ups in Chrome
How to avoid the jump of the scroll bar
Change the download folder
Firefox Quantum versus Chrome
Tips on Chrome browser
More tips
- How to reduce memory usage in Chrome
- How to mute the noisy tabs in Chrome
- Hide Chrome browsing from your boss
- Enable guest browsing in Chrome
- How to make Chrome more tactile
- How to enable Do not crawl in Chrome
- How to put Chrome in high contrast mode
- Remove Chrome extensions
- How to resume an interrupted download in Chrome
- Protect yourself from spoilers with the Chrome browser
- How to create desktop shortcuts for web pages with Chrome
- How to use Chrome extensions in incognito mode
- Disable (and enable) notifications in Chrome
- How to use Chrome's built-in Task Manager
- Add a start button to Chrome
- How to change your default search engine in Chrome's Omnibox
- Show frames per second in Chrome
- Get notifications from Gmail in Chrome
- How to delete your Internet history in Chrome
- How to stop Pop-Ups in Chrome
- How to avoid the jump of the scroll bar
- Change the download folder
- Firefox Quantum versus Chrome
