Google and Microsoft introduce new biometric password security tools

Google has announced a new feature in its Chrome browser for iOS allowing users to lock incognito tabs using Face ID biometrics, The Verge reports.

The latest Chrome 89 beta on iOS would allow incognito tabs to be blurred upon temporarily exiting the app until users confirm their identity using Face ID.

The new biometric privacy feature has been released in the browser’s latest beta version and can be turned on and off from Chrome’s privacy settings.

Google confirmed the feature will be officially released for regular users in the next few months, together with Touch ID support for older devices.

The company has been working consistently on biometric authentication over the past year.

Last May, Google added support for biometric payment authentication for Windows 10 through Windows Hello, and more recently, an APK teardown performed by the XDA team on a beta of the Android Google App hinted at a feature allowing users to lock incognito sessions with biometrics, not dissimilar to the one released by Google on the latest iOS Chrome beta last week.

Microsoft launches password manager tool Autofill

Microsoft has released a new password manager tool called Autofill, which utilizes biometric or a PIN for multi-factor authentication.

Autofill is available as an extension for the Edge and Google Chrome browsers, and as a feature of the Microsoft Authenticator app on iPhone and Android.

Much like Apple’s iCloud Keychain tool or Google Chrome’s built-in password manager, Autofill works across platforms, enabling users to keep their passwords on all compatible devices.

The app also offers a password import feature letting users import passwords stored in CSV format, as well as built-in security features reportedly encrypting passwords both on the device and in the cloud.

When used on mobile devices, Autofill requires MFA via biometric or PIN confirmation.

MFA technologies have also been deployed by Microsoft last month as part of a collaboration between Microsoft Azure AD and cybersecurity firm Keyless.

Article Topics

access management  |  biometrics  |  cybersecurity  |  data protection  |  Face ID  |  facial recognition  |  Google  |  identity verification  |  Microsoft  |  multifactor authentication  |  privacy