Google testing password-free login

Google is working on a service that will enable users to log into accounts just by tapping on their smartphones, eliminating the need to key in hard-to-remember passwords. The internet giant has started sending out invites to select users to test the feature.

A Google spokesperson told VentureBeat: "We've invited a small group of users to help test a new way to sign-in to their Google accounts, no password required. 'Pizza', 'password', and '123456' — your days are numbered."

The no-password feature is still in testing stages and believed to allows users to log into their accounts using their smartphones. When logging in from a new location, like a friend's laptop or a hotel PC, instead of inputting a password, the feature will apparently prompt users by pinging their smartphones. The notification, once addressed, will act as an identity confirmation, allowing users access to their accounts on unfamiliar systems.

Google's planned feature was discovered by a reddit user, Rohit Paul, who was among the few to receive an invite from Google to test the new feature. In his reddit account, Paul wrote: "You authorize your phone to allow you to log into your account.You go into a computer and type in your email. Then you get a message on your phone to allow the login. If you hit yes, the computer logs into your Google account without a password."

He also included screenshots of the procedure, which shows the prompts Google provides before allowing access to user accounts. Two of Paul's screenshots are displayed below:

Google declared that this feature would be made available to both Android and iOS users. However, users will be allowed the option to retain the more traditional method of logging in via a password. The tech giant claims that the new feature will give it a much-needed edge in the fight against phishing.

Earlier this year, Google introduced the Chrome extension "password alert" that reportedly warns users about malicious websites attempting to imitate Google accounts in a bid to steal sensitive information. In October, Yahoo rolled out a similar password-free login feature.