All of us have been there. We constantly enter what must be the correct login and password when presented with a login screen for a website or app, only to get the dreaded (and unpleasant) answer "user and password combination not recognized."
The frequency of this occurrence has only risen in recent years as the number of websites and applications demanding log-in credentials has surged. Cybersecurity experts strongly caution against the use of easy-to-remember passwords (like 1234) and the usage of the same login and password across various websites by some users.
With its upcoming software upgrade, Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) option to do away with the entire process will be made available. Can the iPhone manufacturer finally find a solution to a problem that has troubled internet users for years? The firm is recognized for providing simple and beautiful solutions to issues people didn't even know they had.
At its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) earlier this month, Apple unveiled intentions to overhaul the entire identity verification procedure. Apple will introduce a new passkey feature with the release of iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma, its forthcoming software updates.
In a nutshell, the system will operate as follows: An iPhone (or Mac) user will always have the option to produce a passkey whenever they are asked to sign in to a website or create an account. Just once, users will be required to enter their login and password before being taken to the website's account management page. When the user is given the chance to save a passkey for that account, they can choose to do so by tapping continue, and the procedure is finished.
In the future, if a user wants to log in to that website or application, Apple will first use its FaceID or TouchID features to confirm their identity before using the passkey feature to log them in automatically.
Given that passkeys are now supported by an increasing number of well-known websites, this technology isn't really ground-breaking. The size of Apple's sizable user base, though, makes this a significant move for the iPhone manufacturer.
Apple revealed earlier this year that it had reached 2 billion active devices, more than 1 billion of which were iPhones. Additionally, because Apple users tend to be younger and more tech-savvy, they are more inclined to use the technology, hastening the demise of passwords.
The iPhone is the jewel in the crown of the Apple enterprise. The iPhone earned more over $205 billion in sales and accounted for 52% of Apple's total income for the 2022 fiscal year, which concluded on September 24. Additionally, the success of Apple's services division depends on iPhone consumers subscribing to additional goods and services for their smartphones.
Apple has a stake in retaining current clients and luring new ones. History says it's extremely unlikely that users will transfer to a competitor device once they're well established within Apple's extensive and expanding ecosystem. For Apple and its investors, this is fantastic news.