Facebook is adding password support to its mobile app. This means you’ll be able to log in to the platform using your device’s authentication method, such as a fingerprint, face scan, or PIN, making it harder for attackers to access your account.
Passcodes are a more secure alternative to regular passwords because they cannot be stolen, guessed, or disclosed. They also provide protection against phishing attacks, where attackers try to trick a victim into revealing personal information, often by linking to fake login pages. Because your browser automatically associates your password with a specific domain, it will not accept passwords on fake web pages. But, as the Electronic Frontier Foundation points out, the risk remains if you memorize your password and enter it anyway on a fake web page.
Meta doesn’t give a specific timeframe for when password support will be available, only saying that it will be coming to Android and iOS “soon.” The company plans to add key support to the Messenger app as well, where you will be able to use the same key you set for Facebook. Both platforms will join several other major companies that have adopted a more secure login method, including Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Meta-owned WhatsApp.
Even if you set a security key, you will still be able to use your password to log in to your Facebook or Messenger account. You can also log in using other methods, including a physical security key or two-factor authentication. In addition to logging in to your account, Meta also allows you to use your security key to automatically fill in payment information in Meta Pay.
