Here's how Google plans to kill the password

Here's how Google plans to kill the password

Google takes security seriously, but it's also been on the hunt to find alternatives to passwords for a while now.

The company's latest attempt replaces lengthy codes by building up a measure of trust in your phone, and it's nearing the final stages of completion.

Announced as part of Project Abacus during Google's IO conference last year, the feature creates a continuous "Trust Score" as you go about your day by comparing your typing method, location, face, voice, and more.

When you attempt to log in, the device will check to see if it the environment is sketchy enough to necessitate a password, or just simply let you in unimpeded.

Daniel Kaufman, head of Google's Advanced Technology and Projects division, says that testing for the new biometric security measure is underway for this summer, TechCrunch reports.

A similar set of security measures are already present in Google's SmartLock feature, which can unlock a phone without a password if the device is in a familiar location or recognizes the user's face.

Unlike SmartLock, however, Google's new biometric security measure is an API, meaning developers can use it to protect your apps - as well as use multiple settings, like having sensitive mobile banking apps require higher Trust Scores than a Spotify player.

Kaufman says that "several very large financial institutions" will test out the API in June, meaning we could be seeing the password-less feature come to the public soon - a relief to those who can't remember multiple codes and wind up just going with "password."

TOPICS
Parker Wilhelm
Parker Wilhelm is a freelance writer for TechRadar. He likes to tinker in Photoshop and talk people's ears off about Persona 4.
Latest in Tech
Apple iPhone 16e
Which affordable phone wins the mid-range race: the iPhone 16e, Nothing 3a, or Samsung Galaxy A56? Our latest podcast tells all
The Apple MacBook Air next to the Dyson Supersonic R and new AMD GPU
ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from the best tech at MWC to Apple's new iPads and MacBooks
A triptych image featuring the Bose Solo Soundbar 2, Nothing Phone 3a Pro and the Panasonic Lumix S1R II.
5 trailblazing tech reviews of the week: Nothing's stylish, affordable flagship and why you should buy AMD's new graphics card over Nvidia's
The best tech of MWC 2025 examples, including the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, the Nubia Flip 2, and the Lenovo Solar PC
Best of MWC 2025: the 10 top tech launches we tried on the show floor
Toy Fair 2025 Primal Hatch
The 7 best toys we saw at Toy Fair 2025, from a Lego boat to a hatching, robotic dinosaur
ICYMI
ICYMI: the 7 biggest tech stories of the week, from a next-gen Alexa to the new iPhone 16e
Latest in News
Vision Pro Metallica
Apple Vision Pro goes off to never never land with Metallica concert footage
Mufasa is joined by another lion, a monkey and a bird in this promotional image
Mufasa: The Lion King prowls onto Disney+ as it finally gets a streaming release date
An American flag flying outside the US Capitol building against a blue sky
Sean Plankey selected as CISA director by President Trump
An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 on a table with its retail packaging
Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU spotted in Acer gaming PC, suggesting rumors of imminent launch are correct – and that it’ll run with only 8GB of video RAM
Indiana Jones talking to a friend in a university setting with a jaunty smile on his face
New leak claims Indiana Jones and the Great Circle PS5 release will come in April
A close up of the limited edition vinyl turntable wrist watch from AndoAndoAndo
This limited-edition timepiece turns the iconic Technics SL-1200 turntable into a watch, and I want one