Microsoft has made significant strides in enhancing its security posture following several notable blunders over the years. In 2024 alone, the tech giant has addressed hundreds of security vulnerabilities across its software and services, reflecting a strong commitment to protecting users.
Beyond merely fixing flaws, Microsoft is advocating for improved security practices. This includes promoting biometric security through Windows Hello and the adoption of passkeys in place of traditional passwords—a feature the company finally rolled out for consumer accounts this year.
In a recent announcement, Microsoft revealed that Windows 11 will now support third-party passkeys, bolstering overall security measures. A blog post on the Windows Developer platform detailed that the Windows 11 API has been updated to accommodate these passkeys, with collaboration already underway with popular password managers like 1Password and Bitwarden to ensure seamless integration.
This update also brings enhancements to the Windows Hello experience, making it more user-friendly. Users will now receive prompts when navigating to websites that support passkeys, allowing them to choose how to save their passkey—whether to their Microsoft account or another service.
As Microsoft continues to prioritize security, more updates and features are expected to be unveiled at the upcoming Authenticate conference, which is taking place from October 14 to 16.
