In cybersecurity, convenience often comes at a cost. Synced passkeys—touted for their ability to work seamlessly across multiple devices—are a prime example. While they simplify access, recent research shows they can introduce serious vulnerabilities, potentially exposing entire organizations to risk.
Fortunately, there’s a secure alternative that delivers the passwordless experience we want—without compromising safety. Let’s explore why synced passkeys can be dangerous and why device-bound FIDO2 passkeys are the superior choice.
What Is a Passkey?
Simply put, a passkey is like a password—but far more secure. Instead of a string you memorize, it’s a cryptographic key stored on your device. Passkeys rely on a pair of keys:
-
Public Key: Shared with the service you’re accessing (like your bank or email).
-
Private Key: Stored securely on your device and never leaves it.
Using modern asymmetric cryptography, passkeys are much harder to steal or guess than traditional passwords.
Passkeys and Passwordless MFA
Passkeys are an excellent way to implement passwordless multi-factor authentication (MFA). Here’s how it works:
-
Your private key is stored in a secure location, such as the secure chip on your phone—or, ideally, a dedicated FIDO2 device.
-
To log in, you verify your identity with a PIN or biometric factor.
-
The device then performs a cryptographic handshake with the service.
-
Crucially, the private key never leaves your device, making phishing attacks virtually impossible.
Why Synced Passkeys Are Vulnerable
The key difference lies in where the private key is stored:
-
Synced Passkeys: Stored in the cloud and synced across all trusted devices. Convenient, yes—but this expands the attack surface. If attackers compromise the syncing process, they could impersonate users.
-
Device-Bound Passkeys (FIDO2): Generated and stored on a single hardware token (like a USB key or smart card). The key cannot be exported, copied, or synced.
Research from companies such as SquareX and presentations at DEF CON have already shown attacks like JavaScript injection and “Signed Assertion Hijacking” targeting synced passkeys. Simply put, synced passkeys are an attractive target.
The Secure Solution: FIDO2 Device-Bound Passkeys
The safest approach is clear: FIDO2 device-bound passkeys. By pairing a hardware key with a biometric or PIN, you create a phishing-resistant, uncompromisable authentication method. Since the private key never leaves the hardware, it cannot be stolen remotely or synced to an attacker’s device.
How vSEC:CMS Helps
vSEC:CMS enables organizations to deploy and manage FIDO2 hardware keys at scale. Unlike synced passkeys, this approach ensures:
-
Rock-Solid Security: Eliminates the vulnerabilities associated with synced keys.
-
Centralized Management: IT admins can fully control issuance, revocation, and device lifecycles.
-
Full FIDO2 Capabilities: Supports bulk issuance and advanced device management features.
Your Passwordless Future
Passkeys are the future of authentication—but implementation matters. While synced passkeys may seem convenient, the risks are too high for security-conscious organizations. Device-bound FIDO2 passkeys provide the perfect combination of security, control, and usability.
With vSEC:CMS, organizations can transition to this secure, passwordless future confidently and efficiently—ensuring robust authentication without compromise.
About DT Asia
DT Asia began in 2007 with a clear mission to build the market entry for various pioneering IT security solutions from the US, Europe and Israel.
Today, DT Asia is a regional, value-added distributor of cybersecurity solutions providing cutting-edge technologies to key government organisations and top private sector clients including global banks and Fortune 500 companies. We have offices and partners around the Asia Pacific to better understand the markets and deliver localised solutions.
How we help
If you need to know more about The Hidden Risk of Synced Passkeys: Why FIDO2 Device-Bound Passkeys are the Secure Choice, you’re in the right place, we’re here to help! DTA is Versasec’s distributor, especially in Singapore and Asia, our technicians have deep experience on the product and relevant technologies you can always trust, we provide this product’s turnkey solutions, including consultation, deployment, and maintenance service.
Click here and here and here to know more: https://dtasiagroup.com/versasec/
