---
url: 'https://www.corbado.com/faq/how-can-passkeys-prevent-account-takeovers'
title: 'How can passkeys prevent account takeovers?'
description: 'Understand how passkeys use phishing-resistant technology to prevent account takeovers (ATOs) and enhance online security.'
lang: 'en'
keywords: 'passkeys account takeover prevention, preventing account hacks, passkeys security benefits, WebAuthn account protection'
---

# How can passkeys prevent account takeovers?

## How Can Passkeys Prevent Account Takeovers (ATOs)?

Account takeovers are a significant security threat for enterprises and users alike.
Passkeys address this issue by leveraging **phishing-resistant** technology and security
standards like **WebAuthn**. Here's how they work:

### 1. Phishing Resistance

- Passkeys are bound to the specific domain of the service they authenticate, making them
  unusable on fake websites.
- Unlike passwords or SMS OTPs, passkeys do not rely on shared secrets that attackers can
  intercept or steal.

### 2. Public-Key Cryptography

- Passkeys use **public-private key pairs**, where:
    - The **private key** is stored securely on the user’s device and never shared.
    - The **public key** is stored on the server and used to verify the user’s
      authentication.
- Even if attackers compromise the server, they cannot access the private key required for
  authentication.

### 3. Resistance to Credential Stuffing

Since passkeys are not stored as traditional credentials, they are immune to
[credential stuffing](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/credential-stuffing) attacks that
[exploit](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/exploit) reused passwords from data breaches.

### 4. Secure Biometric Authentication

Passkeys rely on device-based biometrics (e.g., fingerprint or face recognition), ensuring
only the legitimate user can authenticate.

## Why Passkeys Are Effective

By eliminating the [vulnerabilities](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/vulnerability) of passwords and SMS OTPs,
passkeys make it nearly impossible for attackers to carry out account takeovers. They
ensure that authentication happens only in secure, trusted environments.

## Read the full article