You first need to connect the key with the site or service that you want to protect. Hardware keys can come in many different forms, from a USB stick, a nano-key, etc, but essentially they are all small physical devices that can uniquely identify themselves to a service or website.Įach security key has its own private key from which it can generate any number of public keys, which means it can be used on any number of websites and services. What are Hardware-Based Security Keys and How Do They Work? Since we already talked a bit about the other two factors (check out this article if you want to know the pros and cons of biometric authentication), we'll focus here on physical security keys, including how they work and what are the best security keys in 2022.
Something you are: This is a physical characteristic that you possess, such as a fingerprint, iris scan, palm scan, facial recognition, etc.
Something you have: This can be an authentication app on your smartphone or a physical security key (we'll later take a look at the best hardware-based security keys currently on the market). Something you know: This is usually a password, but it can also be a token or a PIN that you receive via SMS. This other factor in MFA can be any two of the following: Contrary to this, the username and password method only use a single factor, the password. Multi-factor authentication (MFA), often called two-factor authentication (2FA), is a method of using more than one authentication factor for accessing online accounts. What is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Even the best passwords can be cracked with enough time and that is why you need a second layer of defense for your online accounts and that is multi-factor authentication. This is why, having a strong, unique password is the first step in securing your online accounts, but it doesn't stop there. When it comes to securing online accounts, most people don't think beyond a username and password and even then, they re-use their passwords or use weak passwords.īoth of these habits are bad security practices as any hacker worth his salt can find a way to crack these passwords and take control of your online accounts. Best Hardware Security Keys for Multi-Factor Authentication
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