Microsoft won't send you SMS texts for login anymore - why it's pushing passkeys instead
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ZDNET's key takeaways
- Microsoft is phasing out SMS as an authentication method.
- SMS messages are unencrypted and vulnerable to hackers.
- Microsoft account owners will be prompted to set up a passkey instead.
When trying to sign-in to or recover one of your online accounts, you'll often receive a text message that prompts you to verify that you're the account owner. But that SMS-based message is not a secure authentication method. Now, Microsoft is putting the brakes on it for anyone who uses a Microsoft account.
Also: How passkeys work: The complete guide to your inevitable passwordless future
On a new support page, Microsoft announced that it will start phasing out SMS as an authentication and account recovery method for personal Microsoft accounts. Instead, the company is pushing passkeys, which offer much stronger security.
What makes SMS authentication so insecure?
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