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Passwords will be on the way out in 2026 as passkeys take over

The curse of having to remember easily hackable passwords may soon be over, as a new alternative is set to take over in 2026

By Chris Stokel-Walker

6 January 2026

Passkeys are a new way to keep your data secure

da-kuk/Getty Images

Can you remember all your passwords off the top of your head? If so, you probably have too few of them – or, heaven forbid, only one that you use everywhere. But that problem could become a thing of the past in 2026.

Passwords are a cybersecurity nightmare, with hackers trading stolen sign-in credentials on illicit markets every day. That’s because the overwhelming majority of passwords are too hackable, according to an analysis by Verizon, with just 3 per cent complex enough to withstand hackers.

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