Microsoft has thought of a new system to log in: just a notification on your smartphone to access your account
As we have emphasized several times, passwords and their management represent an aspect to be taken into very high consideration to safeguard computer security. Obviously, Microsoft is aware of this and wants to replace passwords with a smartphone-based access system.
Microsoft has created an app to increase the computer security of its users called Authenticator, that allows you to avoid entering your credentials to access the various services of the company or your Windows account. It will be enough to confirm access via the smartphone app without having to type anything and therefore without the risk of losing or having one’s credentials stolen. The new application designed by Microsoft will work on both Android and iOS phones, as well as on smartphones running Windows Phone.
How it works
As we said, to confirm our identity there will be no need to enter any password. At this point the question is legitimate: how does this system designed by Microsoft work? Simple, when we go to the page of the service and click on access we will receive a notification on our smartphone. Directly from the phone we can decide whether to confirm access or not. In this way, if a cyber criminal is trying to take possession of our account we’ll know right away. Besides, the attacker couldn’t do anything because he doesn’t have the smartphone. We’ll also be able to set a unique code that is generated differently each time, so we can use the service as if it were a kind of two-factor verification. Microsoft says this system is more secure than the old passwords and easier to use than two-step verification.