Understanding How Passkeys Work: A Technical Overview

Explore how passkeys utilize cryptography and biometrics for secure authentication.

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Passkeys utilize a combination of public key cryptography and biometrics for enhanced security.Here's how they work:1. Key Pair Generation: A public-private key pair is generated.2. Biometric Authentication: User's biometric data (like fingerprint or facial recognition) secures the private key.3. Secure Storage: The private key is stored in a secure enclave on the device.4. Challenge-Response: During login, a challenge is signed using the private key to verify the user's identity without ever exposing the private key itself.This method provides strong, phishing-resistant authentication.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What are passkeys? Passkeys are secure authentication methods that use public key cryptography and biometrics to enhance user identity verification.
  2. How do biometric security systems work? Biometric security systems analyze unique physical traits like fingerprints or facial features to authenticate users.
  3. Are passkeys immune to phishing attacks? Yes, passkeys provide strong protection against phishing by not exposing the private key during authentication.
  4. What is the difference between a public key and a private key? A public key is shared with others to encrypt data, while a private key is kept secret and used to decrypt that data.

Watch More

For more insights into secure authentication and the latest in cybersecurity technology, check out our articles on biometric security and public key infrastructure.

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