1Password CEO talks about the future of passwords using passkeys

World Password Day is celebrated on the first Thursday of May every year to raise awareness of the importance of password security. Prior to the event, 1Password CEO Jeff Shiner spoke to 9to5Mac In an exclusive interview about what to expect in the future of password managers using passkeys, a new technology that promises to put an end to traditional passwords.

challenges over the years

1Password is one of the most popular password managers available today. The app was first released in 2006 and is now available for multiple platforms, including macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, Linux, and the web. Over the years, 1Password has been updated with many new features because online account protection now includes more than just a password.

Passwords are getting more complicated. There are now two-factor authentication codes and passkeys. For some people, using a password manager may seem too complicated. According to Shiner, making 1Password easy to use is one of the biggest challenges in getting people to care about the security of their passwords.

“We’re always thinking about how we can make it easier for people,” said the CEO. 9to5Mac. He explained that although 1Password was created as a solution for the end user, it now provides several features for businesses as well. However, the company is still concerned about keeping the app as intuitive as possible for regular users. “If it becomes too complicated, people will give up on it,” he added.

1 Password and passkeys

But what about passkeys? For those unfamiliar, the technology was developed by the FIDO Alliance in partnership with companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft. Instead of traditional passwords, users can now log in using secure authentication methods such as facial recognition or biometrics without having to create and type in a passcode.

1Password has also joined the FIDO Alliance and is implementing passkey support. According to the company’s CEO, the most important benefit of this technology is its simplicity. “Passwords are difficult for people to remember. Passkeys will benefit the end user in terms of security and convenience,” says Shiner.

But, of course, storing a passkey requires a password manager. While Apple has already implemented passkey support in iCloud Keychain with iOS 16 and macOS Ventura, some users may prefer to use a third-party password manager. For those people, 1Password will soon be ready for Passkeys.

Shiner said the company wants 1Password to be “seamless for the end user, whether that’s with a passkey or a password.” He also stated that 1Password would play an important role in educating users about how passkeys work, as some people might be “concerned if it’s not secure enough” because passkeys seem “too easy”.

Earlier today, Google announced this Users can now replace their Google Account password with a passkey. 1 password Share an offer How soon users will be able to easily store passkeys in the app.

User data protection

We also asked the CEO of 1Password what the company does to make sure its customers’ passwords are secure. LastPass, another popular password manager, faced a major attack last year that compromised sensitive data of its users, including passwords.

Shiner said 9to5Mac That “any company that says it is not vulnerable to security breaches is lying.” But at 1Password, the team always asks, “What would happen if a breach occurred?” He mentioned 1Password’s Secret Key, which is the encryption key to the user’s vault, which is not stored by 1Password.

So even if 1Password ends up being hacked, the attacker won’t be able to access the users’ safes. “If that happens, we want to make sure that the data isn’t available to the people who took it,” the executive said.

More about 1Password

Last year, 1Password completely rebuilt its app with version 8. Shiner said the company is always looking at what can be improved in the app, and most importantly, how the team can make the experience more seamless between different platforms. He also expressed amazement that support for storing and auto-filling passkeys will be available this summer.

New customers can Try 1Password for free. Plans start at $2.99 ​​per month for individuals and $4.99 for sharing with up to five family members. iOS version of 1Password is available on the App Store.