Enhanced Flexibility with New Passkey Import and Export Specifications
Passkeys have revolutionized online security, replacing traditional passwords with advanced security measures utilizing biometric or hardware keys. In a significant leap forward, the FIDO Alliance has unveiled new specifications enabling users to import and export their passkeys. This advancement aims to streamline and enhance user autonomy over their digital credentials.
Breaking Down the New Passkey Specifications
Currently, the chief limitation of passkeys is their confinement within individual password managers. For instance, a passkey saved in Apple's Passwords app cannot be transferred to 1Password. With the FIDO Alliance's new draft specifications, this will soon be a thing of the past.
These specifications introduce the Credential Exchange Protocol (CXP) and Credential Exchange Format (CXF), enabling secure passkey transfer between platforms. Unlike the precarious CSV files used in traditional password managers, these new formats promise robust encryption, ensuring secure credential exchanges.
Companies leading the charge include noteworthy participants such as 1Password, Dashlane, Bitwarden, NordPass, and Google, who have collaborated with the FIDO Alliance on this initiative. Notably, 1Password has already committed to implementing these functionalities once they're officially available.
Future Implications and Expectations
While Apple has not expressly commented on these new specifications, they are an integral member of the FIDO Alliance and were early adopters of passkeys with iOS 16. Appleâs ecosystem already benefits from passkey synchronization across devices via iCloud, where users can authenticate through simple QR code scans.
Despite the promising potential of these specifications, they are unlikely to be widely implemented this year, as they undergo essential industry reviews to ensure security and functionality.
Further details and developments can be explored from the original piece published by 9to5Mac.