Yahoo Introduces Password Free Login In New Mail App

The cornerstone of Yahoo’s password-less approach to Mail access is a technology the company is calling Yahoo Account Key. There is a simple attack vector against the new system, given that mobile device malware is a growing problem, James said, adding that if an attacker is somehow able to compromise a phone, the Yahoo password-less system is a risk. In addition, whatever features Yahoo Mail offers, it will work with these third party accounts. Yes, it’s been that long, and to celebrate, Yahoo is rolling out a comprehensive update to its mail client, which, among other things, ditches passwords … sort of.

Dylan Casey, vice president of product management for Yahoo said Account Key is more secure than traditional passwords. Yahoo announced a new version of its Mail service this week, promising users a new way to secure access that doesn’t require passwords.

A while back, Yahoo began its move away from traditional passwords by offering users single-use SMS codes to log in to their accounts. Well, you will use a new feature called Yahoo Account Key, which lets users log in by entering their email, and tapping a push notification to get into their account. The latest app, which is more intuitive, faster and well-designed, is updated with several new features such as rich compose and smarter search, and these will be available to both iOS and Android users. “Account Key streamlines the sign-in process …” Upon loss of their phones, users will have to authenticate the login through a secondary email address, which is not really ideal. Yahoo’s Senior Vice President Jeff Bonforte noted that while two-factor authorization is being widely employed these days, he calls it too complicated for most people.

Yahoo has unveiled a new yahoo mail app, to mark its 18th anniversary.

The updated Mail app will also allow users to manage multiple accounts from different providers without leaving the app.

The tech industry has long discussed the death of passwords and indeed many, like PayPal, are looking at ways for people to log in without having to remember tricky letter and number combinations. Per comScore, Google and Yahoo! both had around 96 million U.S. email users in August 2013.