Google: Google Chrome adds a new biometric authentication feature on desktop: What is it and how it will work – Times of India

Google Chrome keeps adding new features to improve user experience. The popular web browser is now adding a safety feature for its desktop version. Google Chrome for desktops already supports biometric confirmation. The biometric authentication is done by Chrome before users auto-fills payment information. Now, Google Chrome will ask users for fingerprint verification for entering saved passwords as well. The tech giant has updated its blog post to announce the latest biometric feature. This biometric authentication feature will verify the user before filling in their saved passwords on supported desktops. The latest feature will leverage the existing fingerprint unlock system which is available on both Mac and Windows.
Google Chrome’s new authentication feature for desktops: How will it work
Google will soon roll out fingerprint authentication for saved passwords on Chrome for desktops. Once available, the web browser will get a new option to set up the “protect passwords with your screen lock” feature. This feature can be handy for users who have to share their devices with others. Google Chrome will ask for the screen lock to verify the original user whenever someone fills in a saved password. This feature will also ask for confirmation when users try to reveal, copy or edit passwords saved to the Google Password Manager in Settings.

Google Chrome biometric confirmation: More details
Google rolled out the biometric confirmation feature for online payments in 2020. This feature acted as an alternative for users to enter their credit and debit card CVCs while making payments.
The company is also rolling out fingerprint authentication to access Incognito Mode in Chrome for Android. Apart from this, the Google app on iOS will soon add support for Face ID authentication before allowing users to access the browser.

Other announcements made by Google
Google also marked Safer Internet Day 2023 on February 7 with two more announcements. American Express card users will now be able to use Google Pay’s virtual cards on Chrome and Android. Moreover, in the ‘coming months’, Google Search will also start blurring explicit images by default for everyone.
Google has also announced the new Credential Manager API. This allows Android app developers to “simplify their users’ authentication journey”. With this API, developers will be able to offer support for username/password, passkeys and federated sign-in solutions (like Sign-in with Google). The Jetpack API is currently in its alpha state. Moreover, end users will also benefit from a unified sign-in UI which will be applicable across the various authentication methods.
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