Why I Use a Security Key to Keep My Most Important Accounts Secure
1 min read
Summary
A security key can be used instead of a two-factor authentication process via text message or authenticator app, which are not as secure because the codes can be intercepted, and apps can be compromised if a phone is lost or stolen.
Security keys use strong encryption, FIDO U2F and FIDO2 standards and cryptography to ensure that a login is legitimate and not a phishing attempt, and communication is only with genuine websites.
Security keys work offline and are not tied to a specific phone, so they can be used to log in to any device, providing ultimate security regardless of location.
Security keys also protect against SIM-swapping attacks because they are not tied to a phone number or SIM card and therefore cannot be transferred in the same way.
Major companies such as Facebook, X, Microsoft, Apple, Google and Krisps on Security use security keys, and they have been shown to block phishing attempts and SIM-swapping successfully.
The security key the author uses is a USB-C Yubikey, which can be purchased for $25.
