Refresh
Moving past passwords is improving brand trust
With passwords starting to show their age, and passkeys likely replacing them almost completely within the next decade, there are some interesting statistics behind the adoption of passkeys.
A recent study by Thales has found that almost half (48%) of consumers are more likely to trust a brand that offers the use of passkeys. This is usually due to the frustration many experience when trying to remember or change a password just to use a service or complete a purchase.
Passkeys differ from passwords in that rather being a sequence of characters you have to remember, a passkey is instead a digital identity that is stored on device such as a key fob or mobile phone, and requires a biometric scan (such as a fingerprint or facial recognition) in order to authorize a login.
This makes it much harder for hackers to break into your accounts as they must be in possession of both your digital identity and your physical identity.
The FIDO Alliance has also recently invited companies to participate in the World Passkey Pledge to create a more secure future, and move past the vulnerability and hassle of passwords.
Simon McNally, Cybersecurity Expert at Thales said, “Passwords have long been a weak link in digital security, forcing consumers and businesses into a frustrating cycle of password resets and potential breaches. We welcome the FIDO Alliance’s commitment to World Passkey Day and its push for a passwordless future. Passkeys provide a seamless and secure authentication experience, eliminating the risks and frustrations associated with traditional passwords.
Passkeys are automatically generated and securely stored, removing the burden of creating and managing complex passwords. They also enhance privacy by allowing authentication without sharing sensitive data, reducing the risk of breaches. As trust in digital security becomes more critical, businesses must prioritise passwordless solutions to protect users and build brand confidence.”
Who has the most responsibility when it comes to protecting passwords?
Spencer Starkey, Executive VP EMEA at SonicWall, says that both businesses and individuals have a responsibility to keep passwords secure:
“First things first, employees need to know how to protect themselves. Social cyber-attacks such as phishing that look to get access to authorised user details are still incredibly common and education is crucial. Across the board, there must be implementation of strong security policies and procedures, good password hygiene, high-level encryption, as well as single sign-on and access control when it comes to cloud applications.
From a high-level business perspective, they must look to constantly monitor their network for suspicious activity, using security tools to detect where logins are occurring, on what devices. The sooner they can flag a potential issue, the risk of an attack dramatically lowers. Having a response plan to a cyber attack is of course paramount, and to their credit, more and more businesses have realised this. It’s important to have a technology partner that they can use, if need be, for remediation. HR teams must work closely with the IT teams, especially the CISO of the organisation to ensure they have full visibility on who to call if the unthinkable happens.
Another great step is ensuring that all those operating within the network are educated on best practices, from multi-factor authentication (MFA) to regularly updating devices connected to the network. Empowering users with strong password policies and robust security measures enhances network security, especially as cloud-based tools become more prevalent in education, making access easier for potential attackers.”
Are passwords already obsolete?
I’d argue that they are. Passwords, like antivirus, hail from a bygone era well before the internet and the raft of threat opportunities that it unleashed. Some even suggest ending World Password Day altogether; BeyondID’s CEO Arun Shrestha says that passwords have lost their usefulness, and I agree with him. Passwordless technology, he maintains, is much more secure and offers a much better user experience. There are no more password resets (a bane for IT helpdesks worldwide), but you still need a phone number ora valid email address.
How to keep your passwords safe
There are numerous ways to keep your passwords safe in the digital age. In the nineties and early 2000s it might have been common to have a little book of passwords stored in your family PC cabinet which, while fairly handy, could get lost or stolen.
Nowadays, many people use a password manager app. These apps can help you generate strong passwords when you are creating a new account or changing a password, and will store them in a secure encrypted vault. Most of these apps use some kind of biometric authentication to help keep them extra secure from snoops or hackers trying to break in.
If you aren’t looking to splash out on a premium app, there are numerous free password managers around that can give you a basic password storage solution, but may lack extra features such as secure sharing. Luckily, we’ve rounded up some of the best World Password Day deals to help you grab a bargain and stay secure!
When was the first World Password Day?
When thinking historically, passwords bring to mid verbal phrases used to signify an allegiance to a particular person or group, or to gain access to a restricted room. Nowadays, we use passwords to keep our accounts and files secure.
The history of World Password Day doesn’t go as far back as secret pass phrases, and the day was in fact founded by Intel in2013 as a way to remind people to better their password security and general account security habits. Thanks Intel.
How big is World Password Day?
As we hit 3pm here in the UK, Australia has officially ticked over into May 1st 2025, marking the official start of World Password Day 2025 (for those down under at least).
Data from Google Trends shows that World Password Day sees a yearly spike beginning in April and peaking in at the beginning of May, with 2022 being particularly big year for World Password Day.
Many governments and organizations use World Password Day as a yearly reminder to check the best practices for password security. It’s also a great opportunity for phishing and social engineering training.
What is World Password Day anyway
World Password Day is an annual day to recognize the importance of password security and share insights and techniques to improve credential security. Passwords are often the single line of defense between a hacker and your personal info, so having a short and poorly crafted password can result in social engineering, data theft, banking and credit fraud, and even identity theft.
Carla Roncato, VP Identity at WatchGuard, summarizes why password security awareness is so important. “As we mark another World Password Day, the conversation often turns to strengthening password habits and promoting password managers. While those are necessary steps, there’s a deeper, more pressing issue that needs the spotlight: the thriving underground economy trading in stolen credentials on the dark web.”
So, to mark World Password Day 2025 which will begin on the 1st May, we will be sharing recommendations and insights from security experts, alongside password manager deals, advice, and best practices to help keep you and your online accounts safe!
link