Windows Hello receives FIDO2 certification

May 10, 2019 08:50 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft has recently announced that Windows Hello, the company’s biometrics authentication system, received FIDO2 certification for Windows 10 May 2019 Update.

Systems that receive the certification can be used by developers to offer easy authentication to online services on both desktop and mobile, albeit in the case of Windows Hello and Windows 10 only PCs are being targeted by this achievement.

Windows Hello, which powers alternative authentication systems based on face and fingerprint recognition, is Microsoft’s main weapon in a struggle to provide us with a passwordless experience.

“No one likes passwords (except hackers). People don’t like passwords because we have to remember them. As a result, we often create passwords that are easy to guess—which makes them the first target for hackers trying to access your computer or network at work,” Principal Group Program Manager Yogesh Mehta, explained.

“We encourage companies and software developers to adopt a strategy for achieving a passwordless future and start today by supporting password alternatives—such as Windows Hello—for their users.”

The May 2019 update

The certification covers the May 2019 Update, which is the next feature update for Windows 10 scheduled to go live later this month.

Windows 10 PCs that come with the FIDO Certified logo are also expected to go on sale shortly after the May update ships. These devices will come with the latest version of Windows 10 pre-installed.

The May update, also referred to as Windows 10 version 1903, is currently in the RTM stage as part of the Windows Insider program. Users in the Release Preview ring are already running the final build of the May update, which is further serviced with additional cumulative updates supposed to fix issues before the public rollout begins in a couple of weeks.