Passkeys are revolutionizing the way we think about passwords, offering a more secure and convenient alternative to traditional authentication methods. By leveraging cryptographic key pairs, passkeys ensure that only authorized devices can access an account, making it extremely difficult for hackers to intercept or misuse them.
However, India’s rapid digital adoption has created new challenges in cybersecurity. With over 90 crore active internet users, the country is facing a surge in password-related attacks. Most users create weak passwords, reuse them across multiple accounts, and even share passwords with colleagues, making it easier for attackers to gain access.
According to Microsoft’s Digital Defence Report 2024, more than 99% of identity attacks worldwide are password-based. The number of password-based attacks grew from 4,000 attacks per second to 7,000 attacks per second between 2023-24. This is where passkeys can help.
Passkeys offer several advantages over traditional passwords:
1. Unique and hard-to-crack: Passkeys are auto-generated for each account and tied to a specific device, making them virtually impossible to crack.
2. Authentic websites only: Passkeys work only on authentic websites, preventing users from filling in credentials on fake phishing sites.
3. Faster login: Passkeys eliminate the need for complicated passwords or weak passwords, allowing users to log in quickly and securely.
4. Multi-device sync: Passkeys enable seamless access across multiple devices, without requiring re-enrollment each time.
Several countries, including India, have seen significant growth in passkey adoption. The FIDO Alliance’s 2024 Online Authentication Barometer report found a 54% increase in global familiarity with passkeys over the past year. India and China led the study, with more than 70% adoption rates.
To become a global leader in passkey adoption, India needs to drive widespread awareness and education among users, businesses, and government stakeholders. As the use of passkeys becomes more widespread, it will be essential to ensure that banks, insurance companies, hospitals, real estate, online travel aggregators, and other organizations support passkey authentication for their apps and websites.
By embracing passkeys, India can significantly boost its cybersecurity game and protect its citizens’ data from increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.
Source: https://www.techcircle.in/2025/04/25/how-passkeys-can-raise-the-cybersecurity-game-in-india