14 DAY TRIAL // Replacing passwords with more secure means of authentication has become a priority for Microsoft, and Windows Hello has been spearheading this push since Windows 10 launched in 2015.
Today, the software giant is announcing another such improvement based on Windows Hello, as it makes possible for users to log in to their Microsoft accounts without passwords.
As long as you are running Windows 10 version 1809 and using Microsoft Edge, you can access the account dashboard online without actually providing the password for your account.
Microsoft says this will work with Windows Hello and compatible security keys, so the process of signing in to a Microsoft service is substantially faster, but also more secure.
What this means for users is that there’s a smaller chance of their credentials being compromised. In many cases, usernames and passwords are stolen with phishing scams, and now that a password is no longer required, hacking users is even more difficult.
Windows 10 version 1809 required
Accessing Microsoft services without a password works just like it does on Windows 10. All you have to do is scan your face or fingerprint when trying to connect to a specific Microsoft service and then Microsoft Edge takes care of everything for you.
“With each update, we’re eradicating places where you’re forced to enter a username and password, bringing you peace of mind that your account is protected and accessed by you, and only you,” Microsoft says, promising further improvements to make passwords unnecessary.
Windows 10 version 1809, also known as October 2018 Update, is the latest version of Windows 10 re-released by Microsoft last week. The update is rolling out to users in waves, so you may not be able to install it right now until the company flags your system as fully compatible. Version 1809 will show up in Windows Update when the machine is ready to install it.
