Security News > 2021 > September > Microsoft announces passwordless authentication option for consumers

After offering the passwordless authentication option to enterprise customers in March 2021, Microsoft has now started rolling it out to its consumer segment of users.

Users are able to switch on the feature by visiting their Microsoft account's Advanced Security Options, then Additional Security.

Before choosing to turn of the Passwordless account option, they need to download and install the Microsoft Authenticator app.

Microsoft has made sure that users can add a password to their account again at a later date, though they hope many users will give passwordless security a try and stick with it long-term.

"If you lose access to your Microsoft Authenticator app, you can still access your Microsoft Account using an alternate recovery method like text message or a backup email address. If you have Two Step Verification turned on, you will need to have access to two recovery methods," the company added.

Though passwords are still by far the most prevalent method of authentication, the inability of many users to choose unique, strong passwords and memorize them, their propensity for falling for phishing schemes, and the fact that compromised passwords are still the top cause of data breaches has made passwordless authentication a holy grail for providers of IT solutions and services.

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