Passwords, accounts & devices
Passkeys Explained: Are They Safer Than Passwords?
Usually, yes. A passkey can remove the habit of typing a password into a login box and make ordinary phishing much harder. But passkeys are not magic: you still need a trusted device, a recovery plan and sensible habits around your most important accounts.
For years, people have been told to create stronger passwords, stop reusing them and turn on extra sign-in protection. That advice still matters. But passkeys are changing the conversation because they tackle one of the oldest weak points in online safety: the moment you type a password into the wrong place.
Australian Cyber Security Centre guidance now recommends passkeys where they are available, and services such as myGov already support them. That makes passkeys less of a future trend and more of a practical household decision: should you start using them now, and if so, where?
The short answer
Passkeys are usually safer than passwords for the same account because they are designed to resist ordinary phishing and remove the need to remember or type that password. They are especially useful on your most important accounts. But they do not replace every other habit. You still need a recovery path, a device you trust and a plan for what happens if that device is lost, replaced or shared.
What a passkey actually is
A passkey is a sign-in method that uses a cryptographic key pair rather than a password you type. In plain English, one part stays with the service you are signing in to, and the other part stays on your device, in a password manager or on a physical security key.
When you sign in, you usually unlock the passkey the same way you unlock your phone or computer: with your fingerprint, face, PIN, passcode or device pattern. FIDO Alliance and Cyber.gov.au both describe passkeys as being tied to the correct service, which is why they are much harder to use on a fake lookalike website.
Why passkeys are usually safer than passwords
- You are not typing a reusable secret into a web form. That removes a classic phishing target.
- They are tied to the real service. A fake site can imitate the look of a login page, but it cannot correctly use a passkey created for the genuine domain.
- They reduce password reuse. You do not need to invent, store and re-enter another password for that account.
- They can combine convenience and stronger protection. Cyber.gov.au says passkeys provide multi-factor authentication while also reducing login friction.
This does not mean every account instantly becomes risk-free. It means one common attack path becomes much less useful to criminals.
What passkeys do not solve
Passkeys are strong, but they do not solve every account problem.
- A trusted device still matters. Google warns that you should only create passkeys on devices you personally own and use. If someone else can routinely unlock that device, they may also be able to use the passkey.
- Recovery still matters. Losing a phone, replacing a laptop or switching ecosystems can become stressful if you have no backup path.
- Scams can still create pressure. A passkey will not stop you being talked into moving money, approving a bad transfer or giving away personal information in some other way.
- Not every account supports them yet. You still need strong passwords or passphrases and sensible MFA on the services that have not made the switch.
Passkeys, password managers and passwords are not enemies
Many households treat this as an all-or-nothing choice when it is usually a staged upgrade.
- Passkeys are often the best available option for accounts that support them.
- Password managers still matter because many services still require passwords, and some managers also store synced passkeys.
- Long unique passphrases are still important for the accounts that have not moved to passkeys.
The practical question is not "Should we keep living in the password era forever?" It is "Which important accounts can we improve now without creating recovery chaos later?"
Synced and non-synced passkeys in plain English
Synced passkeys live in a password manager and can be available across devices using that same manager. myGov explains this using examples such as devices signed into the same Apple account.
Non-synced passkeys stay on one device or on a physical security key. They can be simpler to reason about, but they need more deliberate backup planning.
For many households, synced passkeys are the easier starting point. For a few very important accounts, a physical security key can make sense as an additional or backup option.
Which accounts should you upgrade first?
Start with the accounts that can reset or unlock other parts of your digital life.
- Main email account — because password resets, alerts and account recovery often flow through it.
- Government services such as myGov when you are comfortable using a passkey there.
- Primary cloud and identity accounts such as Apple, Google or Microsoft accounts.
- Password manager account if your provider supports passkeys well.
Banking and other high-value services should also be high on the list when passkeys are genuinely supported, but the exact options vary by provider.
A simple household rollout plan
- Pick one important account first. Start with email or myGov rather than trying to convert everything in one evening.
- Create the passkey only on a trusted device. Avoid shared household computers and public machines.
- Check the recovery path immediately. Confirm what happens if the device is lost, whether another device can sign in, and whether backup methods exist.
- Add a second safe way back in. That might mean a synced password manager, a second trusted device or a physical security key for your most important account.
- Keep the rest of your accounts tidy. Use unique passphrases and MFA where passkeys are not yet available.
What can safely wait
You do not need to rebuild every login this week. You do not need to buy security keys for every family member before breakfast. And you do not need to delete your password manager just because passkeys exist.
A calmer approach is to improve the most important accounts first, make sure recovery is understood, and then expand as the household gains confidence.
A useful next step for households
If your family wants one plain-English system for safer sign-ins, scam checks, devices and recovery, The Family Cyber Safety Handbook brings those habits together. For passkeys, the practical goal is simple: use the strongest sensible sign-in option on the accounts that matter most, without locking yourself out later.
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need a password manager if I start using passkeys?
Usually, yes. Many services still require passwords, and some password managers also help sync passkeys safely across your devices.
What happens if I lose the device that stores my passkey?
That depends on how the passkey is stored. If it is synced through a password manager, another trusted device may still work. If it is device-bound, you may need a backup device, recovery method or security key. That is why checking recovery early matters.