Proton has updated Proton Pass to include passkeys for safer authentication on supported sites and platforms. Passkeys offer a promising substitute for conventional passwords and two-factor authentication — they’re more secure and simplify the login procedure.
When creating an account, you generate a pair of cryptographically linked passkeys: one public and one private. The private key is stored on your device or in your password manager and is used to confirm your identity when you log into your account — they’re accessible only to you once you unlock Proton Pass on your device. This makes it harder for attackers to steal user credentials, compared to traditional username and password combinations, or trick them into handing them over.
Proton stores the passkeys on its server, securing them and their metadata (such as website addresses) with end-to-end encryption. Passkeys is available to all users, including those with Proton Pass for Business, right away, with clients updating automatically to add the feature.
“We believe online privacy and security should be accessible to everyone, regardless of what device you use or your ability to pay. That’s why passkey support is now available to the entire Proton Pass community,” the company says in its blog.
Proton Pass claims it gives “passkeys and passwords equal priority so that you can use them interchangeably in our apps,” and allows you to store, share, and export passkeys just like you can with passwords. All you have to do is simply store your passkeys in Proton Pass, and they will be accessible across all your devices.
“This flexibility is part of our commitment to maintaining convenience and interoperability, ensuring passkeys are as user-friendly as traditional passwords,” Proton says.
It’s worth noting that Proton’s own services, including Proton Pass, do not currently support passkey logins. Instead, access requires a password/PIN or biometric verification (such as Face ID/Touch ID).