On iOS and macOS 2FAs are auto-populated for you, and of course also your saved login and password. You don't need to leave the page and open other applications.

This is by far the most common sign-in UX. So is there some security benefit in the email link sign-in?

> auto-populated

Auto population of login credentials including 2FA is currently an attack vector.

"A critical security flaw has been uncovered in the autofill functionality of nearly every major password manager. This vulnerability allows threat actors to stealthily harvest user credentials and sensitive financial data from deceptive web forms without user interaction, turning a core convenience feature into a potent weapon for cybercrime."

https://undercodetesting.com/the-autofill-trap-how-your-pass...

The only way an account accessed by a magic link can be compromised is by an already compromised associated email. No password in clipboard, which is how some of us still do it, etc. The magic link makes everyone secure regardless of how they store their secrets.

And there's also no password stash if the server were to be hacked, which means no sending out "please update your password" emails and the like.

I'd like to think I am pretty security conscious, but I still don't get the obsession with magic links (and passkeys). This is the one thing where I think I disagree with most of the industry. I thought forgetting passwords was a solved problem. I thought 2fa is much faster than searching for the last email for X provider the maybe takes 1 minute to arrive, requires retries and high tend up in spam? Some one please help me get on board.

Autofill of password manager creds is an attack vector.

Passkeys and email links prevent things like: clipboard interception, malicious iframes, fake login UIs, etc.

It depends how convenient it is for you to constantly be carrying devices that have 2fa software or the correct SIM card installed. I might prefer to simply access my email account, which I know how to do anywhere.

2FA != SMS codes

TOTP works just fine and you can save it in a password manager if you like. Email links don't allow me to use a keyboard shortcut to login, instead I have to open a new tab and click around for a magic code/url.

It is terrible, slow, assumes that I receive my E-mail instantly (what if I use greylisting?), makes me check my E-mail when I don't want to.

This as opposed to my password manager filling in the password field within a second or so.

But they know it's terrible. The reason they do it is to make account sharing more difficult.

But less convenient than a TOTP generator in your password app.

Not if you don't happen to have a device on you with that app installed.