At this years WWDC, Apple unveiled a new privacy-focused technology with the ability to use a ‘Sign in with Apple’ button to access service on websites and apps. The feature lets users provide select information, like name and e-mail address, guarded by the company’s Face ID 3D login system on iPhones and iPads.
The company is now working towards making signing into the iCloud website from an iPhone, iPad or Mac browser simpler, bringing biometric login support to the service in iOS 13, iPadOS and macOS Catalina.
Reports indicate that beta testers of Apple’s upcoming operating systems now have the ability to sign into the iCloud site via Touch ID and Face ID without the need for two-factor authentication, given that Apple’s biometric security is far stronger than a manually typed-out password.
When they go to iCloud.com, they are redirected to beta.iCloud.com. A pop-up window then opens where they need to confirm if they want to log-in using their iCloud account using Face ID or Touch ID.
It is likely that the new biometric sign-in method will be a part of Apple’s tests of the “sign-in with Apple” which is currently in beta and is set to launch publically in September.
With “Sign-in with Apple”, instead of having to fill out forms, verifying your email address or choosing a password to use, you just have to use your Apple ID to set up an account and start using an app right away, without revealing any personal information.
Apps can request information, and you can choose to hide your email, and Apple will make a random address that forwards to your email.
Apple says that all accounts are protected with two-factor authentication and the feature includes a new anti-fraud feature to give developers confidence that the new users are real people and not bots or farmed accounts.
