X, formerly Twitter, is develop support for passwords, a new and more secure login method compared to traditional passwords, for all iOS users worldwide. The option debuted in January, but only for iOS users in the US
In his update X @Safety account On Monday, the company announced that passwords are now available as a sign-in option for iOS users worldwide. Similar technology has already been added to other popular apps and services, including PayPal, TikTok, WhatsApp, GitHub and others. Google last fall made passwords the default sign-in option for all users. Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and other companies also support the option.
Passkey technology was pioneered by Google, Apple, Microsoft, and the FIDO Alliance, along with the World Wide Web Consortium. The idea is to make password-free logins available across different devices, operating systems and web browsers. Unlike traditional logins, which require a username and password combination, Access Keys use biometric authentication such as Face ID or Touch ID, a PIN, or a physical security authentication key to validate connections. The process combines the benefits of two-factor authentication (2FA) in a single step, making connections more seamless while maintaining increased security.
For X, the plugin could help users protect their accounts from hacks by bad actors. The social network has seen a number of high-profile hacks over the years, including one in January where the US Securities and Exchange’s X account shared an unauthorized post about the approval of the Bitcoin ETF. Donald Trump Jr.’s X account was also hacked to post a fake message saying Donald Trump had died. There was also a crypto scam in 2020 that compromised several larger accounts, including Apple, President Biden and X owner Elon Musk.
The addition could also help X users who previously relied on SMS 2FA to re-secure their accounts, as X announced last year that this option would be removed for non-paying users. X had he argued that the cost-cutting measure could be abused by bad actors, as in the case of SIM swapping. But the reality is that it made X less secure.
X offers users instructions on how to get started with iOS passwords. There’s no word yet on when Android users will get the option.
