Back in 2015, Microsoft unveiled Windows Hello, a brand new biometric authentication system available in all compatible Windows 10 PCs. Windows Hello adds an extra layer of security to the operating system, Microsoft also wants to replace the passwords with the new biometric authentication system.
Windows Hello allows users to log in with their iris, thus the new system is slightly better than the passwords. In a blog post, Bret Arsenault, corporate vice president for Microsoft and chief information security officer highlighted the reason why it’s time to kill the traditional passwords system.
According to Microsoft, Windows Hello is more convenient and easier to use. The software giant also claims that at least 70 percent of the Windows 10 users with biometric-enabled devices prefer Windows Hello over the password authentication system.
“We are encouraging users to try it, and see for themselves that it is easier to use than passwords. I think one of the fears that people have is that new technology is just going to be more complicated, and not realize that we’ve pushed to make it simpler and better,” says Rob Lefferts, director of program management for Windows Enterprise and Security at Microsoft.
“It will take time for all the parties, all the important websites and all the important line-of-business applications to adopt this technology, and it will take even more time for users, customers and organizations to make the cultural shift required so that people can really live in this new world. But we have the blueprint for accelerating the move away from passwords. The key to success is making sure that the user experience is actually easier and better than what they have with passwords today,” he added.
A researcher recently proved that Windows Hello can be bypassed on older versions of Windows 10 but only on some devices that lack support for anti-spoofing. Unlike Apple’s Face ID, Windows Hello is harder to crack and the biometric authentication system is expected to receive a major security update next year.
