Proximity Unlock hitting Android L and ChromeOS Preview builds

Google has long been unhappy with traditional passwords. And rightly so, they are a headache. If they are easy to remember, they can become easy to guess. There are problems with reuse, attackers are getting them through compromised third party applications, and there are more problems than I care to list. It is hard enough to follow good practice as an informed and security conscious individual -- imagine the struggle for the "non-techy".

Google has long been looking into proximity based credentials as alternatives, and placing them in objects like rings. Last Google I/O, the company released an upcoming feature in Chrome OS that uses your authorized, unlocked phone to unlock your computer simply by having them near to each other (unlocking your phone indicates you are near your computer).

While Android L has not yet been released, some users have reported Proximity Unlock is working for them. If you are running the Android L Preview and Chrome OS Beta/Dev, let us know if it works and how you like the feature so far! But if you are taking advantage of this feature, do remember your phone security is now also a top priority.

The future could be even more amazing -- imagine watches, rings, and other accessories unlocking your devices and Google services for you...