Microsoft has achieved FIDO2 certification for Windows Hello

Microsoft yesterday announced that Windows Hello has achieved FIDO2 certification. With this certification, any compatible device running Windows 10 is now FIDO2 Certified out-of-the-box following the Windows 10 May 2019 update. Users will be able to use Windows Hello biometrics or PINs to access their devices, apps, online services and networks with FIDO Certified security.

Previously, only Microsoft Edge browser supported FIDO2 on Windows 10. Yesterday, Microsoft announced that the latest version of Mozilla Firefox now supports FIDO2 on Windows 10. In addition, Microsoft will soon bring this support to Chromium-based browsers, including Microsoft Edge on Chromium.

“Our work with FIDO Alliance, W3C and contributions to FIDO2 standards have been a critical piece of Microsoft’s commitment to a world without passwords. Windows Hello was built to align with FIDO2 standards so it works with Microsoft cloud services and within heterogeneous environments. Today’s certification announcement brings this full circle, allowing organizations and websites to extend certified FIDO Authentication to over 800 million active Windows 10 devices,” said Yogesh Mehta, Principal Group Program Manager at Microsoft.

“As a board member and vital contributor to the development of FIDO2, Microsoft has been a preeminent advocate of FIDO Alliance’s mission to move the world beyond passwords. This certification builds upon Microsoft’s long-standing support for FIDO2 technologies in Windows 10 and opens the door for its customers and partners throughout the Windows ecosystem to benefit from FIDO’s approach to user authentication,” said Andrew Shikiar, Chief Marketing Officer of the FIDO Alliance. “FIDO2 is now supported in the world’s most-used operating systems and web browsers, setting the stage for enterprises, service providers and app developers to rapidly bring a simpler and stronger authentication experience to billions of users worldwide.”

Source: Microsoft