For millennia, we have used passwords to gain access to protected information and activities. The Roman military used “watchwords” to manage access through secured zones, ensuring that only those with the correct phrases could pass, thereby effectively distinguishing friend from foe. During the 14th – 17th centuries, the rise of knowledge in cryptology (the study of secure communications and codes) laid down the fundamental concepts of cryptography (the construction of algorithms and protocols to secure information), which led to the transformation of secure communication. During the 19th century, wax seals were used to establish authenticity and provide assurance of identity, much like a fingerprint. In the 1940s, paratroopers used clicking devices called “crickets” as an alternative to a password system. By the 1960s, we had transitioned to digital passwords with the development of the Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) by Fernando Corbató at MIT. This innovation introduced password-protected user accounts, allowing multiple users to share system resources securely.
At first, these simple passwords seemed to do the trick to secure everything. We created one password and used it everywhere. As computers and networks became central to business and personal life, passwords grew from a niche tool into a daily necessity. Banks, schools, workplaces, and governments require passwords to validate identity and control access. Over time, the sheer volume of accounts exploded, leaving many people juggling dozens, if not hundreds, of unique credentials. As a result, most of us defaulted to reusing simple passwords across accounts. Soon, passwords were getting hacked, and breaches multiplied.
Hackers quickly learned to exploit our tendencies toward convenience. Short, predictable, or recycled passwords became prime targets for brute-force attacks, phishing schemes, and credential stuffing. Even password managers, while helpful, rely on a single master password—creating a single point of failure. We needed something more substantial, simpler, and more resistant to common attack strategies. This demand laid the foundation for what would become a new era of authentication technology.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) emerged as stopgaps to the limitations of passwords. These layered defenses required something more than “what you know” (a password) and added “what you have” (a device, token, or code) or “what you are” (a biometric identifier such as a fingerprint). While they significantly reduced the success of cyberattacks, 2FA and MFA still relied on passwords as the starting point. Codes sent via text or authenticator apps, while more secure, could still be intercepted or phished. Security improved, but complexity and user frustration remained barriers to broad adoption.
Enter passkeys, a groundbreaking evolution in digital authentication. Unlike traditional passwords, passkeys are cryptographic keys stored on your device and protected by biometrics or a PIN. They eliminate the need to memorize or type complex strings of characters, instead allowing you to unlock accounts with a fingerprint, facial recognition, or a local device PIN. Because no password is ever transmitted or stored, passkeys are inherently resistant to phishing, brute-force attacks, and credential stuffing, making them far more secure and easier to handle.
That said, passkeys are not without limitations. Their usefulness depends on widespread adoption, and while many of the largest technology providers support them, not every website or platform is ready to make the transition. They also tie identity to a device, which means that losing or damaging a phone or laptop can complicate access without proper backup and recovery mechanisms in place. For users outside of major cloud ecosystems, syncing passkeys across devices may feel restrictive. For those less familiar with new technology, the learning curve can be steep. Even with these hurdles, however, the balance of convenience and protection makes passkeys an increasingly attractive alternative to the frustrations of traditional password-based security.
If history has taught us anything, it is that security is constantly evolving in response to threats. Passkeys represent the next logical step, but they may not be the final answer. We are already seeing hints of what could come next: password-free ecosystems where every device, account, and system recognizes us through a combination of biometrics, behavior patterns, and secure cryptographic exchanges. Artificial intelligence may soon be integrated into authentication systems, learning to distinguish legitimate users from impostors by analyzing keystroke rhythms, device usage patterns, and even subtle biometric signals.
The future of security is likely to be invisible to us but impenetrable to attackers. We may soon live in a world where access is granted by simply being who we are—our identity authenticated passively and securely across all of our digital interactions. In the meantime, being able to adapt to the ever-evolving protocols for securing your information is a wise skill to develop.
Courtesy, Karen Clay