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Apple has revealed what it believes are the best security keys to add an extra layer of protection to your digital world.
With the recent release of iOS 16.3, Apple added security key compatibility to its iPhone and iPad devices — as well as its laptops and desktops with the macOS 13.2 update.
Now, in one supporting document (opens in new tab)the company has selected its recommendations for the best physical security keys for use with its devices, which are compliant with FIDO standards – the premier credential security alliance that most big techs have signed up to.
Physical protection
Security keys are physical devices you can use to authenticate a login to a website or service – a type of multi-factor authentication (MFA) method. Unlike other more common MFA methods, such as using a text message or authenticator app on another device, security keys are not connected to your network and thus protected against potential breaches of your network.
However, the downside to using physical security keys is that there are no copies of the associated decryption keys stored on a cloud network, which means that if you lose them, you won’t be able to log in. Apple doesn’t keep any backups either, so you could be permanently locked out of your account.
You can use security keys when logging into your AppleID, in which case they replace the usual six-digit codes that are part of the standard MFA process. However, you can’t use security keys to sign in to child or managed AppleID accounts, nor can you use them with iCloud for Windows.
To use them with Apple Watches, they must be paired with your own phone, not a family member’s.
In its opinion, Apple has recommended three good examples of security keys, namely the YubiKey 5C NFC, YubiKey 5Ci, and FEITAN ePass K9 NFC USB-A. The first two will work with most current Macs and iPhones, while the latter will work with older models of these devices, as it uses a USB-A connection instead of the latest USB-C used on the other two.
More generally, the company stated that any security keys you choose should be FIDO certified (opens in new tab) and of course have the correct connection type for your device.
Apple states that security keys with a USB-C connector work with most of its devices, and those that use Near Field Communication (NFC) only work with iPhones from iPhone 6 and up. These connect wirelessly to your device, but don’t use of your Wi-Fi network, so they’re safe from prying eyes.
- While security keys aren’t essential to staying safe, using one of the best password managers is.