Google, Microsoft, and Apple are the three biggest web browser providers on the market. In fact, Microsoft Edge recently passed Apple's Safari as the second-most used browser, with Google Chrome way out in front. Now, the three Big Tech giants say they will unify logins across Edge, Safari, and Chrome.
The three companies are part of the FIDO Alliance (Fast Identity Online). This week, the trio of web browser providers said they are collaborating on a “common passwordless sign-in standard”.
In a press release, FIDO says that handling various passwords on multiple accounts from web browser to web browser is not only frustrating but could be a major problem if a customer is hacked:
“Password-only authentication is one of the biggest security problems on the web, and managing so many passwords is cumbersome for consumers, which often leads consumers to reuse the same ones across services. This practice can lead to costly account takeovers, data breaches, and even stolen identities. While password managers and legacy forms of two-factor authentication offer incremental improvements, there has been industry-wide collaboration to create sign-in technology that is more convenient and more secure.”
Moving Ahead
All this will be sweet candy to Microsoft's ears. Redmond – more than any other Big Tech company – has been pushing for a passwordless future. FIDO is currently not providing technical details of what its passwordless vision will look like. Although, the group says they are working with various partners and other tech companies and will start rolling out the new tools during the coming year.
“The expanded standards-based capabilities will give websites and apps the ability to offer an end-to-end passwordless option. Users will sign in through the same action that they take multiple times each day to unlock their devices, such as a simple verification of their fingerprint or face, or a device PIN.”
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