
On the former, the process feels a bit easier, if only because computer displays are larger. In most cases, you can set up your YubiKey security key on desktop and mobile.

For example, turning on two-factor authentication on Twitter differs significantly from what you must do on Instagram and other social networking sites. This can add some confusion, especially when activating two-factor authentication in the first place. Rather, the process for each app is slightly different than the next. It’s not that setting up keys for your favorite apps is challenging to do. If you’re new to using security keys, expect to experience a modest learning curve. RELATED: What Is Two-Factor Authentication, and Why Do I Need It? How the Yubikey 5Ci Works There are also biometric tools, such as fingerprints and facial scans. First, there are security tokens, which a product like the YubiKey 5Ci provides.

For the second factor, you have a choice of options. Under 2FA, passwords (or passcodes) remain the primary authentication factor. Doing so can better protect your credentials and the resources you wish to access.īefore 2FA, a single-factor authentication (SFA), such as a password, protected most online data. It’s a security process that requires you to provide two different authentication factors for verification purposes, usually when logging into a new device for the first time. Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, has existed for many years and comes in many forms. "So it's very important that we think about the plumbing that needs to change, and FIDO2 brings a whole new range of capabilities.Quick Overview of Two-Factor AuthenticationĬompatibility: Works With Almost Everything "We rely on so many static credentials like passwords or your mother’s maiden name-it's everywhere," says Jerrod Chong, senior vice president of product at Yubico. As companies like Microsoft adopt the standard over the next few months, all you'll need for a secure log-in is to plug in and tap your new YubiKey. The Series 5 YubiKeys get this streamlined mojo from FIDO2, a new version of an open source standard that facilitates secure authentication. On Monday, the hardware authentication company Yubico is announcing a new generation of its physical YubiKey tokens that support password-less login. And now they're angling to make passwords obsolete. And while the most ubiquitous second factor is a numeric code sent to your smartphone via an app, physical tokens that you plug into your computer have become increasingly popular. By now it's hopefully been drilled into you to enable two-factor authentication on your online accounts, giving you more protection than a password alone.
