When it comes to tech conundrums, our friend Kirk from North Carolina has served us a humdinger. Here's what he’s asking, 

"Is the Apple iCloud Keychain better than Google Passkeys?" 

Ah, Kirk! That is a very good question. So, now we find ourselves with two ideal contenders: Apple's Passkeys and Google Passkeys. 

They're akin to world-champion fighters Ali and Frazier in the password management world. 

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How do Apple Passkeys work 

Apple Passkeys is a new feature that Apple introduced in iOS 16 and macOS 13. It is a way to sign in to apps and websites without using passwords. 

Instead of creating and remembering a password for each account, you can use a passkey that is stored on your device and protected by Face ID or Touch ID. You can use iCloud Keychain to autofill your information when you sign in to websites or apps.

Apple Passkeys works with iCloud Keychain, so your passkeys are synced across all your devices where you are signed in with your Apple ID. Your passkeys are also end-to-end encrypted in iCloud Keychain, so no one else can access or read them.

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How do Google Passkeys work? 

Google Passkeys are simple and secure alternatives to passwords. With a passkey, you can sign in to your Google Account with your face scan, fingerprint or device screen lock, like a PIN. 

Google Passkeys technology is supported by Chrome on Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS devices. They can be shared across Android and Chrome devices using Google Password Manager. 

MORE: GOOGLE'S NEW FEATURE REMOVES PERSONAL INFORMATION FROM SEARCH RESULTS 

Comparing Apple Passkeys with Google Passkeys 

Both Apple Passkeys and Google Passkeys are passwordless authentication methods that use cryptographic keys instead of passwords to sign in to websites and apps that support them.

They both aim to provide a simpler and more secure user experience, as well as protect against phishing and hacking attacks. Both Apple Passkeys and Google Passkeys rely on the device’s screen lock mechanism, such as biometric sensors (fingerprint or face scan) or a PIN to verify the user’s identity.

They both also sync the passkey across the user’s devices that are signed in with the same account (Apple ID or Google Account). 

Apple Passkey is based on an industry standard for account authentication called WebAuthn. Google Passkeys are also based on WebAuthn, but they use a proprietary extension, which means that some websites and apps may support Apple Passkey but not Google Passkeys, or vice versa. 

Apple Passkeys allow you to sign in with a QR code or an external security key on devices that are not associated with the Apple ID. Google Passkeys do not have this feature yet. 

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Apple Passkeys require you to enter your account name when signing in with a passkey. Google Passkeys allow you to select an account from a list without typing the username.

Passkeys are safer, but passwords are more reliable 

I think passkeys will play an important role in securing our future, but for me, it’s too early to put too much trust in them until I see some basic weaknesses addressed. The biggest deterrent, and why I lean toward using a 3rd party password manager instead of passkeys, has to do with the dependence on one single way into the things we access multiple times a day.

Should passkey technology glitch for a period of time, you won’t be able to easily gain access to a vast part of your digital life. I’m just not ready to risk being locked out of everything until I see how stable passkeys work continuously over time. 

MORE: ASK KURT: IS APPLE PRIVATE RELAY AN ALTERNATIVE TO A VPN?. 

Meet the challenger: Third-party password managers 

The party isn't confined to these two giants. There's a cornucopia of password managers available to you in the world. 

They're like digital superheroes, with the power to securely store and generate complex passwords. They'll help you to create unique and difficult-to-crack passwords that a hacker would be hard-pressed to guess.

They'll also keep track of all your passwords in one place and fill passwords in for you when you're logging into an account so that you will never have to remember them yourself. The fewer passwords you remember, the less likely you will be to reuse them for your accounts. 

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Their only Kryptonite? They may not fit as snugly with your devices as iCloud Keychain or Google Passkeys. Plus, their superpowers often come with a price tag. There is a risk that they can be compromised, but I still prefer using a password manager over the agony of trying to remember several passwords or fully leaning on passkey technology. 

Check out my best expert-reviewed password managers of 2023 here.

Kurt's key takeaways 

The showdown ends in a draw. Your perfect match depends on your tech lifestyle. Diehard Apple or Google user? Stick with your own unless you fancy more features and are willing to shell out a bit of money for a password manager, which I find most useful and easier to remember passwords for me. 

Which path are you planning to tread? Are you throwing your hat into the ring with Apple Passkeys or Google's Passkeys? Or maybe you're venturing into the vast universe of other password managers? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

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If you or someone you know is suffering from abuse, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

The Madison man accused in a brutal random assault and rape of a University of Wisconsin student allegedly approached two other women through their open kitchen window moments after the 3 a.m. attack, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital.

He asked for help and claimed to have found the assault victim and dragged her behind their home, prosecutors allege. The two women called 911. He allegedly said he was high, appeared "antsy" and left the scene before cops arrived.

The attack came just days before thousands of University of Wisconsin-Madison students returned to class for the fall semester. Upon his arrest, he told detectives he was angry that night and "wanted to hit something," the criminal complaint alleges.

COED SEX ATTACK SUSPECT STALKED STUDENT DOWN STREET, SOAKED IN HER BLOOD: PROSECUTOR

He "saw red" when he spotted the victim, the complaint continues. Then he allegedly claimed he doesn't remember what happened until he saw her on the ground in front of him.

"She came across as a monster," detectives quoted Thompson as saying. "I went into a rage, when I came to, she was on the ground."

He claimed he doesn't remember raping her but allegedly said, "I could have."

The victim suffered severe, life-threatening injuries and could not communicate with the first officer on scene, according to the complaint.

MADISON POLICE REVEAL HOW THEY CAUGHT UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SEX ASSAULT SUSPECT

He called it "one of the most horrifying things I've seen." She was placed in a medically induced coma at the hospital.

Police found the victim naked, with a broken jaw, broken nose and missing tooth, and so much swelling on her face she couldn't open either eye. She was covered in blood and needed eight stitches. She had injuries around her neck, where she had allegedly been strangled, and more.

Doctors later determined she had suffered a traumatic brain injury and found a brain bleed with an MRI. DNA testing allegedly confirmed the highest-level match that Wisconsin's crime lab can confirm between the rape kit evidence and Thompson's sample.

Dane County Deputy District Attorney William Brown told a judge Thursday that the extent of the violence and the attack's random nature coming from someone with no criminal history is the most "terrifying" part of the case.

"If he is to be free, everyone is at risk of this spontaneously happening again," he told the court, asking the judge to reject the defense's request for $10,000 bail.

The judge ordered Thompson held on $1 million.

If you or someone you know is suffering from abuse, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.