Samsung’s PC browser beta has just taken a meaningful step toward tighter credential protection: the latest Samsung Internet for PC beta (version 29.0.0.148) now requires Windows sign‑in verification before Samsung Pass will reveal saved credentials, forcing local Windows authentication — PIN, fingerprint, facial recognition or other Windows Hello methods — as an additional gate to users’ passwords and autofill data.
Background
Samsung Internet has long been a core part of Samsung’s software ecosystem on Galaxy phones, offering features such as Smart Anti‑Tracking, Samsung Pass password and identity management, and, more recently, Galaxy AI‑powered browsing assist. In late 2025 Samsung pushed the browser beyond mobile devices with a Windows beta aimed at bringing that same ecosystem integration to PCs running Windows 10 (version 1809 and later) and Windows 11. The initial PC beta rollout targeted the United States and South Korea and has been updated regularly during the beta cycle as Samsung tunes parity with its mobile capabilities. Samsung’s formal release notes list version 29.0.0.148 (released January 9, 2026) as the build that introduces the Windows sign‑in verification requirement for Samsung Pass on the PC browser. That entry appears as part of a clearly enumerated changelog that shows a rapid cadence of beta builds since the October 2025 PC beta launch. Counting the 29.0.0.xx entries in Samsung’s published history confirms there have been eight PC beta builds in the 29.0.0 series so far (29.0.0.124, 130, 132, 137, 139, 142, 146 and 148).
What changed in 29.0.0.148 — the concrete update
The headline: Samsung Pass now requires Windows sign‑in verification
The update’s changelog states in plain terms that “Samsung Pass on Samsung Internet now requires verification using your Windows sign‑in method for enhanced security.” Practically, that means when Samsung Internet attempts to autofill or expose stored credentials through Samsung Pass on a Windows PC, the browser will invoke Windows’ local sign‑in verification mechanisms (Windows Hello PIN, fingerprint or facial recognition) before revealing the data. Samsung’s release note lists this as the principal security enhancement for the build.
Why this matters in practice
- It prevents someone with physical access to an unlocked or logged‑in Windows account from freely viewing or exporting Samsung Pass data inside the browser without re‑authenticating with a Windows sign‑in method.
- It aligns Samsung Pass on PC with the prevailing model used by competing password stores (for example, desktop integrations of Google Password Manager, Bitwarden, 1Password and others that rely on local OS authentication for unlock).
The scope of the change
- Applies to Samsung Pass in Samsung Internet for Windows (PC beta). The changelog specifically names Samsung Pass on Samsung Internet as the target. The release is limited to the PC beta channel at present; Samsung’s dev notes and newsroom explain this is part of the beta program.
Technical context: Windows sign‑in, Windows Hello and what “verification” means
Windows exposes several local authentication methods grouped under the Windows Hello umbrella: facial recognition, fingerprint recognition and the PIN. Microsoft’s documentation treats these as local sign‑in methods tightly coupled to the device and, in modern Windows versions, backed by platform hardware (TPM) where available. When an application requests a secure unlock of local credentials, it will typically leverage those authentication mechanisms via system APIs or credential manager integrations. In short, “Windows sign‑in verification” as referenced in Samsung’s changelog will normally translate to one of these flows:
- Prompting the user for their Windows Hello PIN.
- Asking for biometric verification using a registered fingerprint reader.
- Asking for facial recognition if a compatible camera is present.
- Falling back to an account password if configured accordingly.
Samsung’s changelog does not detail the precise API or integration surface used; it states the functional behavior (require Windows sign‑in method) without a developer‑level implementation note. That is consistent with vendor release notes that emphasize user impact rather than internal API calls. The exact behavior in corner cases (e.g., domain‑joined enterprise PCs with different auth policies, or machines where Windows Hello is disabled) may vary and wasn’t detailed in the changelog. Readers should assume the browser will fall back to whatever Windows sign‑in options are available on the local machine.
Cross‑checking the claims: validation against independent sources
Key claims in Samsung’s update are verifiable in multiple places:
- Samsung’s official release notes list version 29.0.0.148 and include the Windows sign‑in verification line in the changelog.
- Samsung’s own newsroom and U.S. press pages confirm the Windows beta initiative, the Windows 10 (1809+) and Windows 11 support baseline, and the initial regional availability (U.S. and Korea) when the PC beta launched.
- Independent outlets covering the beta — including SamMobile and The Verge — picked up the changelog detail and wrote about the Windows sign‑in requirement as the notable security improvement in the latest beta build, corroborating Samsung’s public note.
- Samsung’s support documentation on Samsung Pass and PC usage describes Windows Hello and TPM requirements for Samsung Pass on computers, establishing that Samsung has long tied the PC experience to Windows’ local authentication and platform security features.
Because these claims are present in the vendor documentation and echoed by independent press coverage, the core factual points — version number, changelog text, and the functional shift to require Windows sign‑in verification — are verifiable and robust.
Security analysis: strengths and practical benefits
- Stronger local unlock model
- Requiring Windows sign‑in verification raises the bar for an attacker with local access to a machine. A locked PC that is later unlocked into a user session will still protect Samsung Pass credentials behind an additional Windows Hello or PIN prompt, reducing risk from casual or opportunistic access.
- Leveraging platform security and TPM
- On modern hardware with TPM 2.0 and proper Windows Hello setup, local keys and biometric templates are stored and managed in hardware‑backed enclaves. Using Windows sign‑in as a gate lets Samsung piggyback on that hardware trust model rather than inventing its own, which is generally more secure than a vendor‑specific fallback. Samsung’s PC guidance for Samsung Pass already lists TPM and Windows Hello as PC requirements in many markets.
- Consistency with ecosystem expectations
- Desktop users increasingly expect password managers and browser credential stores to require OS‑level authentication. By matching that expectation, Samsung reduces cognitive friction and aligns Samsung Pass with the same secure unlock pattern used by mainstream password managers on Windows.
- Reduced risk from browser session theft
- If a browser or profile is somehow left open on a shared machine, forcing re‑authentication to expose stored credentials reduces the attack surface for credential harvesting from the browser UI.
Privacy and risk considerations: what this update does not solve
- Dependence on Samsung Account and cloud sync
- Samsung Pass is tied to a Samsung Account for cross‑device sync. Strong local gating doesn’t change the fact that cloud‑stored data and sync flows are other attack surfaces. Users should ensure their Samsung Account has strong multi‑factor authentication and review sync settings. Samsung documentation makes this account dependency clear, and the update targets local exposure rather than cloud security.
- Implementation details matter — and are not fully disclosed
- The release note describes behavior at a high level. It does not publish technical details such as whether Samsung stores decryption keys on the device, whether it uses Windows DPAPI or a custom key escrow, or how it behaves on systems without TPM or Windows Hello configured. Those details determine the true security posture in edge cases; without them, some residual uncertainty remains. This is a standard tradeoff: release notes prioritize user impact, not cryptographic architecture.
- Compatibility and exclusion risks
- Samsung Pass on a PC historically calls out requirements such as TPM 2.0 and Windows Hello support in the Samsung Pass PC guidance. That excludes older or budget machines without TPM‑backed security, which means some users won’t benefit from this improvement unless they upgrade hardware or OS. Samsung’s PC Samsung Pass guidance lists Windows 10 1903+ and TPM requirements for the PC features.
- Biometric tradeoffs
- Requiring biometric or PIN unlocks relies on the security and correct enrollment of those methods. Biometric systems are convenient but irreversible if compromised; that’s why a layered approach (strong Samsung Account protection, passkeys, and OS updates) remains important. Microsoft’s Windows Hello guidance and troubleshooting pages underscore the importance of correct configuration and fallback options.
- Enterprise environments and policy interactions
- Domain‑joined machines, Intune‑managed devices, or machines with lock‑down policies might behave differently — for instance, enterprise policies may disable certain Windows Hello flows or force alternate authentication flows. The changelog does not enumerate enterprise considerations; administrators should test the beta before deploying widely.
Compatibility and roll‑out notes
- Platform baseline: Samsung’s beta documentation and press materials list Windows 10 (version 1809 and later) and Windows 11 as the supported OS baseline for Samsung Internet for PC. The PC beta initially targeted the U.S. and South Korea, with a staged expansion planned later. Users outside those regions may still be subject to regional availability controls while Samsung widens the program.
- Beta cadence: Samsung has released multiple incremental PC beta builds since the initial release (a minimum of eight 29.0.0.xx builds as of the 29.0.0.148 entry). This suggests a rapid feedback cycle where UI, translation, homepage shortcuts, autofill fixes, and now authentication gating have been iterated on in short order. The changelog is explicit about prior fixes and additions in preceding builds.
- Device requirements: Samsung’s support documentation for Samsung Pass on PC lists TPM 2.0 and Windows Hello as part of the PC experience requirements in several markets. If users intend to use Samsung Pass on their desktops, they should confirm their machines meet those requirements.
Practical recommendations for users and admins
For Windows users who rely on Samsung Internet and Samsung Pass, the following steps and checks will help ensure the new protection actually benefits you:
- Confirm your Windows build and updates
- Ensure Windows 10 (1809 or later) or Windows 11 is installed and fully patched. Some authentication APIs and Hello improvements rely on recent OS updates.
- Enable Windows Hello and TPM where available
- Register a Windows Hello method (PIN, fingerprint or face) in Settings → Accounts → Sign‑in options. If your device supports TPM 2.0, ensure it is enabled in firmware; many OEMs ship with TPM enabled but it may be off in older devices. Microsoft’s configuration guidance is the best path for setup and troubleshooting.
- Harden your Samsung Account
- Because Samsung Pass syncs across devices, enable multi‑factor authentication on your Samsung Account, use a unique strong password, and review connected devices to avoid unauthorized sync. Samsung’s newsroom and support pages make clear that Samsung Account is central to cross‑device features.
- Test behavior on managed or enterprise machines
- Admins should validate the new gating behavior in test environments, especially where GPOs or MDM policies could alter sign‑in flows. Document expected behaviors and update support notes accordingly.
- Review Samsung Pass settings and alternative password managers
- Decide whether to continue using Samsung Pass for passwords or prefer a third‑party manager that you already trust and that integrates with Windows Hello or passkeys. The Windows password/passkey landscape has evolved rapidly; choose the model that best fits your security posture.
Strategic and market implications
Samsung’s decision to require Windows sign‑in verification for Samsung Pass inside the PC browser is a pragmatic play with several implications:
- Ecosystem lock‑in vs. user convenience
- The move deepens the tie between Samsung Internet and Samsung Pass for cross‑device continuity, which is attractive for Galaxy users invested in Samsung’s ecosystem. However, it also reinforces a pattern where vendor‑specific password solutions are optimized for their own ecosystems rather than becoming universal. That tradeoff will matter to users who prefer vendor‑agnostic password managers.
- Competitive positioning
- By adopting the OS authentication model, Samsung brings its PC offering in line with Google, Apple and third‑party password managers that rely on the platform’s secure unlock. That parity removes a notable UX/security objection enterprise or privacy‑conscious users might have had — namely, that Samsung Pass on PC was weaker than other stores. Expect competitors to iterate on passkey, passphrase and OS‑backed unlock flows in response.
- Signals for future integration
- The beta cadence and the quick addition of Windows sign‑in verification suggest Samsung is prioritizing a secure cross‑device experience before a wider public rollout. The company’s broader messaging around Galaxy AI, cross‑device continuity and ambient AI hints at more deeply integrated features (and more security features) likely to follow.
Limitations and open questions
- Cloud security posture
- Local gating helps, but the article and changelog do not address whether cloud‑side protections for Samsung Account and Samsung Pass have changed. Users should treat local gating as one layer among several.
- Implementation specifics
- Samsung’s note doesn’t disclose whether it uses Windows DPAPI, the WebAuthn/passkey APIs, or a different escrow key model for integrating Samsung Pass unlock with Windows. That technical visibility matters for enterprise threat modeling and for security researchers. The lack of published implementation detail is normal in consumer release notes, but it leaves some questions unanswered.
- Edge case behavior
- How Samsung Internet behaves on devices where Windows Hello is present but not configured, or where TPM is absent/disabled, is not fully described. Admins and users should test those cases before depending on the feature in production environments.
Conclusion
Samsung Internet for PC’s latest beta, 29.0.0.148, is a clear, measured security improvement: gating Samsung Pass access with Windows sign‑in verification brings the browser’s credential protection into alignment with modern desktop password manager conventions and leverages platform security (Windows Hello, TPM) instead of trying to recreate it. The change is well documented in Samsung’s release notes and corroborated by independent tech outlets, and it addresses a practical attack vector — unauthorized local access to stored credentials inside the browser.
That said, the update is not a panacea. It does not remove the need for robust Samsung Account protection, nor does it fully disclose the cryptographic or key‑management details that security teams and researchers might want to evaluate. Users on older hardware or without Windows Hello/TPM support remain outside the protection scope, and enterprise environments will need validation under managed‑policy constraints.
For Windows users invested in Samsung’s ecosystem, enabling Windows Hello and keeping Samsung Internet updated will deliver a tangible security benefit today. For security‑conscious users and administrators, the new requirement should be treated as one important layer — valuable, but most effective when combined with strong account security, OS hardening, and attentive management of sync and device settings.
Source: SammyGuru
Samsung Internet for PC Improves Security With Windows Sign-In