Last November, Microsoft took it a step ahead, adding capabilities to use Windows Hello or a FIDO2-compliant external authenticator to securely sign in to your Microsoft account on the web without having to use a password. What makes the revamped Windows Hello login platform different is that it’s built into the massively popular Windows 10 operating system, thereby obviating the need for separate specialized hardware. It was developed jointly by Google and Yubico, before it came to be overseen by the FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) alliance in 2013.

Passwordless authentication leverages the FIDO U2F (Universal 2nd Factor) open standard, making it easy for users of such hardware to seamlessly sign into online services and apps using Bluetooth, Near-field Communication (NFC) or USB. The company has announced that Windows Hello, the passwordless authentication method that allows Windows 10 users to sign in to their devices using biometric information, is now a FIDO2 certified authenticator, joining the list of hardware-based security keys like Yubico’s YubiKey. Microsoft’s attempt to kill the password is going ahead with full steam.

Windows hello u2f