Millions of people to benefit from simpler, more secure way to sign in to government services
The UK government is rolling out passkeys for GOV.UK One Login, enabling faster and more secure access to public services without passwords.
Passkeys are being introduced for GOV.UK One Login, allowing users to sign in using biometric data or a PIN instead of passwords. This change aims to simplify access to government services while improving security. Users can now log in up to eight times faster than with traditional methods involving passwords and verification codes.
More than 300,000 users tested passkeys during a trial, and the feature is now expanding to millions of GOV.UK One Login users. Nearly one in ten daily sign-ins now use passkeys, reducing costs and improving efficiency for public services.
Passkeys are designed to protect users from phishing and cyber threats by storing authentication data only on their devices. This eliminates the risk of passwords being stolen or reused across different services, enhancing overall security.
The National Cyber Security Centre endorses passkeys as a more secure alternative to passwords, citing their resistance to interception and phishing attempts. Users can still opt for traditional passwords if preferred, but passkeys are encouraged for stronger protection.