PayPal introduces support for access keys on Apple devices

PayPal makes it easy to log into its services – that is, if you’re an Apple device user. The payments giant announced today that it is adding keys as a login method for PayPal accounts, allowing iPhone, iPad and Mac users on PayPal.com to log in without using a password.

Access keys are a relatively new industry standard created by the FIDO Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium – in collaboration with Apple, Google and Microsoft – and are designed to replace passwords with pieces of data called cryptographic key pairs. The pairs consist of a public key stored in the cloud and a private key stored locally on users’ devices, separated to ensure that a compromised server does not allow an attacker to access account credentials.

Keys have the added benefit of supporting a range of authentication techniques, including fingerprint scanning, facial recognition, PINs, and even swipe patterns. The downside is that the keys reside on local devices and it may be more difficult to log into an app or service with them if you’re using someone else’s phone or laptop. But this way, keys are undeniably more secure than a typical password.

Image credits: PayPal

With PayPal, users of Apple devices running iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1, or macOS Ventura can create a passkey by logging into the PayPal website on a desktop or mobile phone, entering their username and password, and then selecting “Create a passkey.” They will be asked to authenticate using Apple Face ID or Touch ID to create a password, which will then be synced to Apple’s iCloud Keychain service.

Users of devices that don’t support dongles can still tap their iPhone to sign in with their PayPal password, but they’ll have to scan the QR code that appears after entering their username.

The rollout of PayPal keys to users in the US begins today. PayPal says Pass Keys will be available in additional countries in early 2023 and on platforms beyond iOS, iPadOS and macOS “as support for Pass Keys is added.”