The 1Password password manager app for Android has just gotten a huge new update, which unlocks the use of passkeys through its app. Held by many as the future of secure authentication, passkeys are the next evolution of the password, and from today, you’ll be able to use 1Password to create, manage, and unlock your accounts that use passkey authentication.
1Password is one of the world’s most popular password managers, with over 700,000 passwords saved. But it clearly sees that the future is elsewhere, as it has been leading the charge on taking passkeys into the mainstream.
But what’s all the fuss about? Are passkeys just new passwords? Sort of. Stored in two parts — a public and a private key — passkeys use a “signing” method of authentication. When signing in, a website will request a handshake from your private key stored on your device. When received, it will compare that to your public key and let you in the two match up. If you’ve used an authenticator app, you’ll be familiar with the concept — though passkeys are even more secure than authenticators.
Since the website or app you’re signing into only has your public key and not your private key, it makes passkeys a whole lot more secure than passwords. Since all a hack would be able to secure would be your public key, your accounts would stay secure. Your private key never leaves your device also means that passkeys are naturally phishing-resistant, and every single one is strong by default, as well.
1Password joins a small group of password managers with passkey support, one of which is the mighty Google Password Manager. 1Password is definitely worth considering over Google’s built-in option, though, as it will support using passkeys across a number of devices and services and won’t be limited to just Android and Chrome, unlike the Google Password Manager.
To use passkeys on 1Password, you’ll need an Android device with Android 14 or newer, the latest version of the 1Password app, and a website or app login that supports passkeys. 1Password has a handy passkey-tracking system in place, so you can head to the app’s Watchtower section and see which of your logins can be replaced with a passkey. 1Password recommends using Amazon, WhatsApp, or Uber for passkey newbies, as all three have passkey systems set up and ready.
Two new highly requested iCloud plugins just got added to ChatGPT, giving people who rely on Apple’s Mail and Calendar services a way to search emails, check appointments, and manage their schedules directly through the chatbot.
The integration is rolling out to all ChatGPT plans, including the free tier. You can access it on the web, desktop, and iOS.
Google Play is borrowing one of the Nintendo Switch’s most useful little tricks. A new Sidekick tool called Playbacks captures a short clip after something interesting has already happened, sparing players from running a screen recorder throughout an entire game.
Playbacks is part of Google Play Store v53.8 and keeps saved clips on the phone. Google first announced it earlier this month, but the new Play Store update marks its arrival for players. Anyone who has watched a perfect win vanish because the record button came too late already understands the appeal.
Samsung’s scandal over its Game Optimizing Service, or GOS, has returned with a bill attached. South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has tentatively fined the company 20.1 billion won, or about $15.1 million, over gaming claims made for the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22, and Tab S8.
The regulator says Samsung promoted the devices as gaming powerhouses without disclosing that GOS placed preset CPU and GPU limits on certain demanding games. Samsung disputes that conclusion, calling GOS a legitimate way to manage heat.