Yubico YubiKey Security Keys For Two Factor Authentication

If you don't have a second layer of security for your online accounts, you’re not as secure as you think you are. You could always use an authentication app, but then you have to enter a multi-digit passcode every time you login to a new device or app. One easy solution is to use a Yubikey. These devices are very handy for upping your security with no hassle.

How Secure Are You?

Yubikeys are tiny USB drives that also are a two-factor authentication tool for various services and operating systems. It combines hardware-based authentication and public key cryptography and this eliminates account takeovers. All you have to do is insert the device into a USB slot and authenticate with just a touch. It doesn't get easier than that. One of the best features is that YubiKey authentication is four times faster than typing a One Time Passcode and it doesn't need a battery or network connectivity so it is always on and accessible. The YubiKey 4 Series comes in four versions, but each has the same internal components, functionality, and capabilities. You have security for your home, so it makes sense to have it in your online life as well. The two keychain version include YubiKey 4 USB- A and the YubiKey 4C – USB-C, while the Nano is designed to stay in your USB port and comes in USB- A and USB- C variations. Some additional benefits of using YubiKey are that it reduces your IT operational costs, you get multiprotocol support on a single key, plus the units are crush-resistant and waterproof.

Security Has Never Been Easier

Supported protocols include FIDO U2F, smart card (PIV), Yubico OTP, OpenPGP, OATH-TOTP, OATH-HOTP, and Challenge-Response. YubiKey uses crypto algorithms RSA 2048, ECC p256, and ECC p384. It is compatible with Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Chrome OS operating systems, and on most major browsers as well. It's also PIV smart card compatible, minidriver available on Windows and has support for PKCS#1. These days it pays to up your security because we are all vulnerable to account takeovers.

The article Yubico YubiKey Security Keys For Two Factor Authentication was originally published to Reviews by GadgetReview