Consumer News: What are passkeys? Hint: They're faster and safer than passwords

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Consumer Daily Reports

Details: Written by Consumer Affairs News; Category: Consumer Daily Reports; Published: 09 May 2025; Created: 09 May 2025; Last Updated: 09 May 2025

Passkeys are safer than passwords and increasingly being adopted by Google, Microsoft and others

May 9, 2025

Passkeys are a safer and simpler replacement for passwords, which are fraught with security concerns.
Major companies are increasingly adopting passkeys and Microsoft is ditching passwords altogether.
Still, more companies need to push passkeys and users need to start using only passkeys for better security.

Passwords may be coming to an end.

Passwords have long faced criticism for their weak security: Data breaches expose billions of passwordsevery year and people often use the same phrases or combinations, such as "admin" or "1234," that can be guessed.

Now, companies are increasingly pushing for users to ditch passwords and switch to passkeys, which are more secure because they arelinked to and stored on devices such as computers or smartphones.

More than 15 billion accounts now have the option to use passkeys, according to FIDO Alliance, an industry cybersecurity group that developed passkeys.

"What is happening for consumers is even though they are under increasing attack, websites are using passkeys to help them sign in securely," Andrew Shikiar, CEO of FIDO Alliance, told ConsumerAffairs.

Microsoft said this yearit would make all new accounts "passwordless by default" and instead have accounts setup passkeys. Google is also encouraging passkeys after a surge of phishing attacks on Gmail.

"Microsoft's leadership on this front is fantastic and will help others follow suit," Shikiar said.

Image via Microsoft.

And more than a dozen big financial companies have also made passkeys available, including American Express, Bank of Americaand Wells Fargo. E-commerce websites, such as Amazon, eBay and Walmart, have also adopted passkeys.

"The results speak for themselves: Time after time, companies report that their customers have a much faster time to sign in," Shikiar said.

How do passkeys work?

Passkeys work by having a private key and public key.

"That means there'sno way to remotely get in," Shikiar said. "You can go steal my public key all you want."

What provides the strong security is the private key, linked to a device, that can be a code, fingerprint or facial recognition.

"Whatever you do to unlock your device is highly secure, personal to you," Shiikiar said. "All of these are highly secure methods."

For instance, Windows 11lets users have a PIN code as their passkey for supported accounts.

And every online account with passkeys has a private keylinked to a device.

But you can safely use the same code, fingerprint or facial recognition for every account since it is stored on your device.

"That's only on your device," Shikiar said.

Password managers, such as 1Password and NordPass, can also manage passkeys for users.

Can passkeys be hacked?

It is very difficult for a bad actor to use a passkey to get into an account.

In theory, a thief could glance over your shoulder to see the code you enter and then steal the device and use the passkey to access accounts. Or a criminal could threaten you to unlock a device with your fingerprint or face.

But this is much harder than a hacker guessing a password or usingone that was exposed in a data breach.

How did passkeys start?

FIDO Alliance, which developed passkeys with other companies, introduced the term in 2022. There are now more than 300 companies involved with FIDO Alliance.

"This really speaks to the magnitude of the problem and the threat presented by passwords that necessitates this level of collaboration," Shikiar said.

Apple was the first major adopter of passkeys in late 2022, when it added them to iOS, the operating system for iPhones and iPads, Shiikiar said.

Apple's passkeys come in the form of the unlock code, fingerprint or facial recognition for an iPhone or iPad, which other companies then can recognize for signing on.

Image via Apple.

In 2023, Google's Android operating system also began supporting passkeys.

"We have more sites thanwe can count supporting passkeys," Shikiar said. "I think that's fantastic progress."

Still, he said there is room to grow and FIDO Alliance doesn't have numbers on the percentage of users only using passkeys.

"We need to make sure that everyone who has the option to use passkeys is using them," Shikiar said. "Furthermore, that people start to eventually delete their passwords altogether."

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Posted: 2025-05-09 17:48:05

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Consumer News: Grocery Outlet is closing 36 stores — Here’s what it means for your wallet
Fri, 27 Mar 2026 19:07:08 +0000

Why a discount grocer is closing stores in this economy

By Kyle James of ConsumerAffairs

March 27, 2026

Closures are a reset, not a retreat: Grocery Outlet is cutting weak stores while still expanding elsewhere.
Even discount stores face price pressure: Competition from Walmart, Costco, and grocery promos is forcing everyone to sharpen pricing.
Shoppers who stay flexible win: Split trips, compare unit prices, and only stock up on what youll actually use.

A wave of store closures is hitting Grocery Outlet, including nine locations across California, as part of a broader plan to shut down 36 underperforming stores nationwide.

At first glance, that feels backwards in todays economy.

When shoppers are stretched thin and actively looking for deals, youd expect discount grocers to be thriving. However, the reality is more complicated than that, and it actually says a lot about how grocery shopping is changing right now.

Heres how the 36 store closures break down by state:

California Nine stores
Maryland Eight stores
New Jersey Six stores
Ohio Sixstores
Pennsylvania Four stores
Idaho Threestores

Why a discount store would close in a 'save money'economy

According to the company, the closures are about cutting weaker locations and focusing on long-term growth. They still plan to open 30+ new stores in 2026, so this isnt a retreat, but more of a reset.

Heres whats really happening behind the scenes:

Competition is getting more aggressive: Traditional grocery stores are running deeper promotions, and big-box retailers like Walmart and Costco are leaning hard into the perception of low prices across all categories.
Shoppers are more strategic than ever: People arent just going to one store anymore; theyre splitting trips across multiple stores to chase the best deals.
Value expectations are higher: Even discount chains have to constantly prove theyre the cheapest option, not just the budget option.

Translation: Being labeled a discount store isnt enough anymore. They have to consistently win on price.

Why this matters for shoppers

Store closures dont mean deals are disappearing. If anything, they signal that price competition is heating up.

Thats good news for shoppers, especially if you know how to take advantage of it.

Here are some smart grocery-saving tips to use right now:

1. Stop relying on just one store.

As mentioned earlier, the biggest shift happening right now is the move away from one-store shopping.

Try to use a mix of:

Discount grocers (like Grocery Outlet)
Warehouse clubs
Traditional supermarkets for sales/coupons

This is how smart shoppers are cutting 2030% off grocery bills.

2. Treat discount stores like a treasure hunt.

Grocery Outlet is known for opportunistic inventory, meaning deals change constantly and products rotate in and out all the time.

So, the secret here is to not go in with a rigid list. Instead, go in looking for whats cheapest right now and be willing to try new brands and products.

Thats how you consistently find the real bargains.

3. Compare price per unit, not just shelf price.

A discount item isnt always cheaper. Take a close look at the weight of the box or package, as sometimes its filled with mostly air.

Get in the habit of always checking the following:

Price per ounce
Price per item

Sometimes Walmart or a sale at a traditional grocery store still wins on price.

4. Watch for clearance-style grocery deals.

As stores close or reset inventory, you may see:

Deeper markdowns
Bulk discounts
Short-term price drops

This is a good time to stock up on shelf-stable items or things you can freeze for later use.

5. Dont confuse cheap with smart.

Buying something just because its discounted, or seems like a good deal, can backfire.

I actually made this mistake recently at Grocery Outlet. My local store had an 18-count box of protein bars for just $2.99. It was a brand I was familiar with, and the regular price was $24.99 for a box.

In my excitement, I grabbed four boxes only to realize later that the expiration date was just two weeks away. There was no way I could eat 72 bars by then. I ended up giving some away, but I will probably be stuck with a couple dozen stale bars that will end up in the trash.

Only stock up on:

Items you already use.
Products with a long shelf life.

Its pretty easy for your savings to turn into waste if you throw stuff in your cart just because the deal seems too good to pass up.

Consumer News: New research links moderate caffeine intake to better long-term brain health
Fri, 27 Mar 2026 19:07:08 +0000

Your morning coffee habit might do more than wake you up

By Kristen Dalli of ConsumerAffairs

March 27, 2026

Drinking two to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily was linked to a lower risk of dementia.
The findings come from a long-term study of more than 130,000 people.
Decaffeinated coffee did not show the same association with brain health.

If your day doesnt really start until that first cup of coffee, there may be some encouraging news.

A large new study suggests that moderate coffee consumption specifically about two to three cups a day may be linked to a lower risk of developing dementia later in life.

The research adds to a growing body of evidence exploring how everyday habits might influence long-term brain health. But before you start refilling your mug, its important to note: this study shows a connection, not a cause-and-effect relationship.

When searching for possible dementia prevention tools, we thought something as prevalent as coffee may be a promising dietary intervention and our unique access to high-quality data through studies that have been going on for more than 40 years allowed us to follow through on that idea, senior author Daniel Wang said in a news release.

While our results are encouraging, its important to remember that the effect size is small and there are lots of important ways to protect cognitive function as we age. Our study suggests that caffeinated coffee or tea consumption can be one piece of that puzzle.

The study

To understand the link between caffeine and cognitive health, researchers analyzed data from more than 131,000 participants across two long-running U.S. studies. Participants regularly reported their coffee and tea intake over time, and researchers tracked who developed dementia, along with changes in memory and thinking skills.

The study followed people for up to 40 years, making it one of the more comprehensive looks at diet and brain health. Over that period, more than 11,000 cases of dementia were documented.

Researchers also accounted for a range of factors that could influence results, including lifestyle habits, overall diet, and health conditions. By adjusting for these variables, they aimed to isolate the potential role of caffeinated beverages in cognitive outcomes.

What the results actually showed

The findings point to a clear pattern: people who consumed more caffeinated coffee tended to have a lower risk of dementia compared to those who drank little or none.

The most noticeable benefit appeared at moderate intake levels about two to three cups of coffee per day. At that level, participants showed lower rates of dementia and slightly better cognitive performance measures.

We also compared people with different genetic predispositions to developing dementia and saw the same results meaning coffee or caffeine is likely equally beneficial for people with high and low genetic risk of developing dementia, lead author Yu Zhang said in the news release.

Interestingly, the same wasnt true for decaffeinated coffee, which showed no meaningful association with dementia risk. Tea showed similar trends to caffeinated coffee, suggesting caffeine itself may play a role.

Still, researchers emphasize that the effect was modest, and coffee alone isnt a guaranteed way to protect your brain. Instead, it may be just one piece of a much larger puzzle when it comes to maintaining cognitive health over time.

If nothing else, this study offers a reassuring takeaway for coffee drinkers: your daily habit might be doing a little more than just helping you power through the morning.

Consumer News: Sleep problems may quietly shape your heart health
Fri, 27 Mar 2026 19:07:08 +0000

Recent research explores how common sleep disorders could raise cardiovascular risk

By Kristen Dalli of ConsumerAffairs

March 27, 2026

Having both insomnia and sleep apnea may significantly raise the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.
Researchers analyzed health data from nearly one million U.S. veterans to understand the connection.
Treating overlapping sleep disorders not just one could play a role in reducing long-term risk.

Sleep is often treated as a side issue when it comes to overall health but new research suggests it may play a much bigger role in heart health than many people realize.

According to a recent study highlighted by Yale School of Medicine, sleep disorders like insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea arent just frustrating they may also be important, and potentially modifiable, risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

We spend an enormous amount of time managing cardiovascular disease downstream, but far less time addressing more upstream modifiable risk factors, researcher Allison Gaffey, Ph.D., said in a news release.

Sleep disturbances, which are common in the veteran population, are often treated as secondary problems.

The study

To better understand this connection, researchers analyzed health data from nearly one million post-9/11 U.S. veterans. This large-scale study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, focused on identifying how insomnia, sleep apnea, and the combination of both (known as comorbid insomnia and sleep apnea, or COMISA) relate to cardiovascular outcomes.

Participants medical records were used to track diagnoses of insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea, along with the development of conditions like hypertension and cardiovascular disease over time.

By comparing groups those with insomnia alone, sleep apnea alone, both conditions, or neither researchers were able to isolate how each scenario influenced risk.

This approach allowed the team to look beyond individual sleep disorders and instead examine how overlapping conditions may create a distinct risk profile.

What the researchers found

The results point to a clear pattern: people with both insomnia and sleep apnea faced the highest risks. Compared to those without these conditions, individuals with COMISA had more than double the risk of developing hypertension and more than triple the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Importantly, the increased risk was consistent across both men and women, suggesting the findings may apply broadly within similar populations.

Researchers emphasize that this combination of sleep disorders represents a distinct and particularly harmful state not just the sum of two separate issues. Addressing one condition while overlooking the other may leave underlying risks unresolved.

These conditions dont just coexist politely, Dr. Gaffey said. Treating one while ignoring the other is a bit like bailing water out of a boat without fixing the leak.

Taken together, the findings highlight sleep as more than just a lifestyle factor it may be an important piece of the cardiovascular health puzzle, especially when multiple sleep issues overlap.

Consumer News: Recall issued for more than 10 million grill brushes sold at Home Depot
Fri, 27 Mar 2026 19:07:08 +0000

Multiple injuries have been reported from ingestion of wire bristles

By Mark Huffman

of ConsumerAffairs

March 27, 2026

Nexgrill recalls more than 10.2 million grill brushes over ingestion hazard.
Loose metal bristles can stick to food and cause serious internal injuries.
The products weresold at Home Depot stores and online from 2015 through 2026.

Just in time for the outdoor grilling season, Nexgrill is recalling more than 10.2 million metal wire bristle grill brushes after reports that small metal pieces can break off and pose a dangerous ingestion hazard.

According to the recall notice issued this week, the brushes can shed wire bristles during use. Those bristles may remain on grill surfaces or attach to food, creating a risk that consumers could unknowingly swallow them. In some cases, ingestion can lead to serious internal injuries requiring medical treatment or surgery.

The brushes were widely sold at Home Depot stores nationwide and online at Homedepot.com between 2015 and 2026, typically priced between $5 and $15.

Reports of injuries

Nexgrill says it has received at least 68 reports of bristles detaching from the brushes. Among those incidents are five cases in which consumers swallowed the metal fragments and required medical attention to remove them from the throat or digestive tract.

The recall covers several Nexgrill grill brush models with black plastic or wooden handles measuring between 18 and 21 inches long. Affected model numbers include 530-0024, 530-0024G, 530-0034, 530-0039, 530-0041, and 530-0042. The brand name Nexgrill appears on each product.

What consumers should do

Consumers are urged to stop using the recalled grill brushes immediately

Nexgrill is offering full refunds in the form of a gift card. To receive a refund, consumers must register for the recall through the companys website, upload a photo of the brush along with a provided registration code and their initials, and follow instructions after receiving confirmation.

The company will then provide guidance on how to properly dispose of the recalled product.

For more information, consumers can contact Nexgrill toll-free at 800-942-1498 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the companys recall page online.

Consumer News: Consumer product safety recall roundup for March 26, 2026
Fri, 27 Mar 2026 19:07:07 +0000

Furniture, tools, and baby products are part of this week's recall roundup

By News Desk of ConsumerAffairs

March 27, 2026

This roundup covers recent consumer product recalls and public health alerts from CPSC, FDA, and USDA-FSIS. Check model numbers, lot codes and purchase dates carefully, and act promptly.

Vive Health bed rails linked to entrapment deaths

Vive Health is recalling adult portable bed rails after reports that users can become trapped and suffocate, including two reported deaths.

Specific hazard: Users can become entrapped within the bed rail or between the bed rail and mattress, creating an asphyxiation risk.
Scope/stats: About 122,000 units sold nationwide in medical supply stores and online from September 2019 through December 2025; two entrapment deaths reported.
Immediate action: Stop using the bed rails immediately and contact Vive Health to request a refund.

Product

Vive Health LLC is recalling its Vive Health Compact Bed Rail (model LVA2009SLV) and Bed Rail Collection V (model LVA2097SLV), plus units of the Vive Health Bed Rail model LVA1024 purchased on or before Aug. 21, 2023. The company says the rails can create dangerous gaps when attached to a bed, raising the risk of entrapment and asphyxiation.

The hazard

When installed, users can become trapped within the rail or in the space between the rail and the side of the mattress. Vive Health has received two reports of entrapment deaths associated with one model: a 97-year-old man at an assisted living facility in Texas and a 93-year-old man at home in Florida, both in September 2024.

What to do

Stop using the recalled bed rails immediately. Contact Vive Health to obtain a refund, and do not sell or give away the product.

Company contact

Vive Health: 800-487-3808 (9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday), recalls@vivehealth.com, or https://vivehealth.com/pages/recalls (or vivehealth.com and click Recall at the top of the page).

Consumer Daily Reports

Consumer News: What are passkeys? Hint: They're faster and safer than passwords

Passkeys are safer than passwords and increasingly being adopted by Google, Microsoft and others

How do passkeys work?

Can passkeys be hacked?

How did passkeys start?

Listen to this article. Speaker link opens in a new window.Text To Speech BETA Test Version.

Why a discount grocer is closing stores in this economy

Why a discount store would close in a 'save money'economy

Why this matters for shoppers

Your morning coffee habit might do more than wake you up

The study

What the results actually showed

Recent research explores how common sleep disorders could raise cardiovascular risk

The study

What the researchers found

Multiple injuries have been reported from ingestion of wire bristles

Reports of injuries

What consumers should do

Furniture, tools, and baby products are part of this week's recall roundup

Vive Health bed rails linked to entrapment deaths

The hazard

What to do

Company contact

Petzl ice axes recalled over shaft break risk

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What to do

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4our Kiddies furniture straps may fail unexpectedly

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DuraTrac gas connectors recalled for leak hazard

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CCCEI power strips recalled for fire risk

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Home Depot grill brushes recalled for bristle ingestion

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DIY sauna heater kits recalled for overheating risk

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AirClub bassinets recalled for bedside sleeper gap risk

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