(Redmond, WA, Wednesday, September 15, 2021) – Today, those with a Microsoft account can completely remove their passwords and instead opt to use the Microsoft Authenticator app, Windows Hello, a security key, or a verification code to sign-in to apps and services, like Outlook, OneDrive, Microsoft Family Safety, and more. This feature will be rolled out over the coming weeks.

Why go passwordless?

• Nobody likes passwords. They’re inconvenient. They’re a prime target for attacks. Yet for years they’ve been the most important layer of security for everything in our digital lives — from email to bank accounts, shopping carts to video games.
• We are expected to create complex and unique passwords, remember them and change them frequently, but nobody likes doing that either. In a recent Microsoft Twitter poll, one in five people reported they would rather accidently “reply all” — which can be monumentally embarrassing — than reset a password.
• Weak passwords are the entry point for the majority of attacks across enterprise and consumer accounts. There are a whopping 579 password attacks every second — that’s 18 billion every year.

It only takes a few steps to break free from your password:

• First, ensure you have the Microsoft Authenticator app installed and linked to your personal Microsoft account.
• Next, visit microsoft.com, sign in, and choose Advanced Security Options. Under “Additional Security Options, you’ll see “Password-free Account.” Select ‘Turn on.’
• Follow the on-screen prompts, and then approve the notification from your Authenticator app. Once you’ve approved, you’re free from your password!

To learn more about Microsoft Security solutions, visit microsoft.com.

Data is from YouGov Omnibus among a sample of 1,248 adults in the U.S. and was collected between 22nd – 23rd July 2021.  The survey was carried out online and data have been weighted to be representative of all US adults (aged 18+). 

Soundbites — Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Security, Compliance and Identity

• NOBODY LIKES PASSWORDS. THEY’RE INCONVENIENT, OFTEN HARD TO REMEMBER, AND ARE NOT REALLY SECURE. YET, THEY’RE USED AS THE FIRST-LAYER OF SECURITY IN OUR DIGITAL LIVES. SO I INVITE YOU TO IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT PASSWORDS – WHERE WE USE MORE CONVENIENT AND SECURE METHODS TO VERIFY IDENTITY AND REMOVE THIS VULNERABLE ENTRY POINT FOR HACKERS TO GET IN.
• CYBERATTACKS ARE ON THE RISE, AND WEAK PASSWORDS ARE AN EASY POINT OF ENTRY FOR HACKERS. IN FACT, ACCORDING TO OUR RECENT DATA, THERE ARE A WHOPPING FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY-NINE PASSWORD ATTACKS EVERY SECOND. THESE HACKERS DON’T ‘BREAK IN,’ THEY LOG IN. AND IT IS HUMAN NATURE TO CREATE A PASSWORD THAT’S EASY TO REMEMBER, MAKING IT EASY TO GUESS, ESPECIALLY FOR HACKERS WHO HAVE LOTS OF TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES AT THEIR DISPOSAL.
• WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT OUR VISION FOR A PASSWORDLESS FUTURE FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS. EARLIER THIS YEAR WE BROUGHT THE FEATURE TO ENTERPRISES AND STARTING TODAY, ANYONE WITH A MICROSOFT ACCOUNT CAN REMOVE THEIR PASSWORD AND INSTEAD CHOOSE AN ALTERNATIVE AUTHENTICATION METHOD. PASSWORDS CAN BE A HEADACHE TO CREATE, REMEMBER, AND RESET. PAIR THIS WITH THE FACT THAT THEY ARE A PRIME TARGET FOR HACKERS, AND IT’S TIME TO DITCH THE OLD PASSWORD FOR A MORE SECURE WAY.