Microsoft prepares to delete user passwords in shift to Edge

In an announcement made by Microsoft, the company is set to begin deleting saved passwords from its Authenticator app starting in August 2025. This significant transition comes as part of Microsoft's larger initiative to phase out traditional passwords, marking what the company describes as the end of the 'password era.' While users will still be able to store passkeys in the Authenticator app, Microsoft recommends switching to Edge for password management. This shift has raised concerns among some users and security experts, who argue that it consolidates core features into a single ecosystem, limiting users' choices as they must adapt to new Microsoft protocols. Furthermore, this consolidation follows a broader trend among major technology companies like Apple and Google, which impose similar restrictions, indicating a potential diminishment of user sovereignty in choosing how they manage their online security. Experts from Proton have criticized this move, suggesting that as users are compelled to stay within a specific ecosystem, their options diminish over time, effectively pushing them toward a more controlled environment. As a result, consumers may inadvertently sacrifice flexibility for the perceived ease and security that comes from using these integrated solutions, which often involves increased data collection and monitoring by the provider. This situation reflects the ongoing tensions between security and user autonomy in the digital age, prompting regulatory scrutiny of these tech giants’ practices across multiple jurisdictions.