Unlocking Effortless Security: The Power of Passwordless Authentication

Did you know that Google searches for “how to login without a password” nets more than 1.3 billion results? If you’ve been wondering how to ditch passwords, you aren’t alone. Passwords have been the cornerstone of online security for years. But now, there’s a new way to sign in. The world’s tech giants are embracing a passwordless future, with FIDO2 certified passkeys and hardware keys leading the way for smooth, secure logins. 

That said, passwordless isn’t about giving up passwords for good. After all, there’s no rule saying you can’t ease into the future on your own terms.  

Ultimately, passwordless is about making daily logins quicker and safer.  

And with attackers leveraging AI to create more hyper-personalized and dangerous phishing campaigns, LastPass is committed to empowering you with real options tailored to your comfort and safety.

The problem with passwords 

Remember the flip phones of yesteryear? The clam-shell design, the compact size, the satisfying sound of snapping a phone shut after a call. 

For years, they ruled our lives before smartphones took over. But fast forward to today (and you guessed it), flip phones are making a comeback. Gen Z is ditching the smartphone and embracing retro flip phones for their simplicity and digital detox appeal. 

The newest models boast sleek interfaces, AI-rich features, and titanium-reinforced hinge plates, with a 35% greater ability to withstand folds. 

It’s nostalgia, supercharged for the present day. 

And just like flip phones, passwords have endured, undergoing continuous innovation as the need for secure access grows (think passphrases and longer, more complex passwords). 

With your privacy and peace of mind on the line, there’s no better time to embrace better password hygiene, both at work and home. 

Yet, with most of us juggling 100+ logins, it’s tempting to fall back on reusing easy-to-remember passwords.  

And that’s exactly what hackers hope we do, because just one compromised password could give them access to everything else. Ultimately, your digital security is only as strong as your weakest password – but you have options (even if you’re skeptical about going passwordless). 

Why go passwordless: The benefits of passwordless authentication 

Think about why you upgraded from a flip phone in the first place: touchscreens, effortless browsing, one-tap payment options.  

In that spirit, consider what passwordless can do for your digital life.  

While flip phones (and passwords) work just fine, the possibilities – and solid security – of passwordless is worth considering: 

What it means at work 

• Your IT department stops drowning in reset requests and starts focusing on growth. Meanwhile, your employees get faster access to the tools they need, making daily tasks easier and productivity levels higher. 

• You get to deliver secure, frictionless logins, reaching the 60% of shoppers who browse and shop on their phones. This means fewer abandoned carts and more sales for your business, all without sacrificing security. 

• Your business stays ahead as ecommerce fraudsters refine their tactics. Think scammers who dispute transactions, falsely claiming you didn’t deliver their products or items weren’t as described.  

Or expensive skincare orders where the contents are replaced with lookalike substitutes and shipped back to you for a full refund. 

 

Fraudsters are using bots (and stolen credentials) to mass-create fake accounts, testing out different stories on you. Passwordless means strong authentication protocols that make it harder for them to gain the initial access needed to launch their fake chargeback schemes. 

What it means at home  

• You get secure access through stronger identity verification. This means scammers can’t easily implicate you in schemes, such as brushing scams. Here, scammers deliver low-value items like costume jewelry, tech gadgets, or imitation beauty products to your home (without your consent).  

These packages mean they likely have your personal info (name, address, and email), which allows them to make the order, build “verified buyer” status, and write reviews in your name.  

 

Passwordless options like passkeys and YubiKeys require your physical presence, thus preventing unauthorized orders and fake reviews tied to your identity. 

Transitioning to a passwordless future with LastPass 

The experts agree: passwordless won’t happen overnight.  

Universal access to every site, across every device and browser, may take years to achieve.  

It’s a complex journey that requires the support of a network of partners. This includes: 

• e-commerce brands (like Amazon, Target, Ebay, and Walmart) 
• tech giants (like Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Nvidia) 
• regulatory bodies (like NIST) 
• standards organizations (like the FIDO2 Alliance) 
• security hardware providers (like Yubico) 

As the drumbeat for passwordless continues, you can get the best of both worlds with LastPass. 

Still using passwords? Reduce the number of passwords you must track to just ONE - your master password. With LastPass, you get a built-in password generator and AES-256 encryption for your data (the same protection enjoyed by hospitals, the military, and federal agencies).  

Most importantly, you get smart autofill, which means LastPass does the hard work of remembering your logins and entering them for you. 

Ready to go passwordless? You can have both fast logins and strong security with these options: 

1. Single sign-on (SSO): With SSO, your employees log in once using passwordless options like biometrics, passkeys, or hardware security keys to access the apps or tools they need. 

 

2. Biometric or app-based authentication: These enable passwordless by eliminating the "something you know" factor (like passwords). Instead, you verify your identity with “something you are” (biometrics) or “something you have” (one-time codes): 

• Face or fingerprint logins to your LastPass vault via Windows Hello or macOS Touch ID 
• One-time passwords (OTPs) or codes generated by authenticator apps like the LastPass Authenticator 

3. Hardware-based authentication: A security key, like a YubiKey, is another form of passwordless - a USB device that’s plugged into your computer or device. Some NFC-enabled keys allow you to tap against your device to confirm your identity. 

 

4. Passkeys: Based on FIDO2 standards, passkeys use cryptographic key pairs and are phishing resistant. They provide faster, easier, and more secure sign-ins to websites and apps.  

Does LastPass support passkeys? 

The answer is YES. 

Let’s face it. You've been trained to accept the inconvenience: typing complex passwords, resetting forgotten ones, and juggling logins across devices. But as an award-winning Secure Access provider, LastPass wants you to have smarter, faster, and safer logins.    

So, we’ve made the beta version of passkeys available for LastPass Free, Premium, and Families users in all LastPass browser extensions and the LastPass Password Manager app.  

This means that, by joining the beta, you can test out passkeys and share your feedback to help us make it even better.  

And that’s not all: Unlike passkey management on platforms like Google or Microsoft, LastPass will soon offer passkey access regardless of device, browser, or operating system – for both standard and federated users. Full launch announcements are coming your way shortly, so stay tuned! 

Meanwhile, you can access the passkeys beta before the general public by signing up for a LastPass free trial today (no credit card required). 

See what our happy customers are saying and join the passwordless revolution. 

All my passwords are kept safe, encrypted, and 2-factor authenticated so I don't have to worry. I have hundreds of logins, and I have a different strong password for each, and I cannot imagine what it would be like to manage that on paper. I use it many times every day, both in my personal affairs and in my professional work as a teacher (Aaron C, German teacher and verified G2 user).

What I like best about LastPass is how easy it is to use and the number of features it includes. I was super easy to implement in our company. We use LastPass daily and we appreciate the great customer support (Stacey M, IT System Administrator and verified G2 user).