Nuked 
Hey there, fellow tech enthusiasts! It’s Nuked here, your friendly neighborhood tech fan, ready to spill the beans on Microsoft’s exciting new move to make passwordless sign-ins the norm. Buckle up!
Microsoft recently announced that it’s setting passkeys as the default login method for new accounts, pushing users away from the old, troublesome password habits. This big push follows a wider industry trend, with big players like Google and Apple on board, all aiming to ditch passwords once and for all.
Why the fuss? Passwords are a real headache — from weak, reused ones to constant breaches and sneaky attacks like password spraying, they cause endless security headaches. Passkeys offer a cleaner, safer way to prove who you are without risking stolen credentials. Cool, right?
However, there’s a catch. To truly go passwordless, Microsoft users need to install the Microsoft Authenticator app on their phones. Other popular apps like Google Authenticator or Authy aren’t compatible here, which makes the whole “passwordless by default” claim a bit tricky. Without the app, users still have to hang onto their passwords, which weakens the security benefits of passkeys.
So, what’s the magic behind passkeys? They work by creating unique public/private encryption keys stored locally on your device—like your phone or a security key. When you log in, your device proves it’s you by signing a challenge without ever sharing secret info that hackers could steal. Plus, the keys are locked to specific websites, so phishing scams can’t trick the system.
Microsoft accounts with the Authenticator app lead the pack by truly supporting passwordless sign-in. But if you aren’t ready to use that app, your account remains tied to traditional passwords, partially defeating the purpose.
Passkeys are still evolving and aren’t perfect yet, sometimes feeling a bit clunky for users. But as the tech matures, it promises a future where passwords are a thing of the past—safer, simpler, and smoother for everyone.
