Apple says these are the best security keys available today
Apple has revealed what it believes is best security lock to add an extra layer of protection to your digital world.
The recent release of iOS 16.3 saw Apple add security key compatibility to its iPhone and iPad devices – as well as to laptops and desktops with the macOS 13.2 update.
Now, in a supporting document (opens in a new tab)the company has selected recommendations for the best physical security keys to use with its devices, compliant with FIDO standards – the leading alliance for credential security that most public companies use. All major technologies are registered.
Physical protection
A security key is a physical device that you can use to authenticate logins to a website or service – a type of multi-factor authentication (MFA) method. The difference from other, more common methods of MFA – such as using SMS or an authenticator app on another device – is that the security keys are not connected to your network, so, they are protected from any threat of network intrusion.
The downside to using physical security keys, however, is that no copies of the associated decryption keys are stored in the cloud, meaning that if you misplace them, you won’t be able to log in. Apple doesn’t keep every backup, so you could be permanently locked out of your account.
You can use the security key when signing in to your AppleID, in which case they will replace the usual six-digit code that includes 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.
Apple has suggested three good examples of security keys, which are YubiKey 5C NFC, YubiKey 5Ci, and FEITAN ePass K9 NFC USB-A. The first two are supposed to work with most current Macs and iPhones, while the last will work with older models as it uses a USB-A connection instead of USB. The latest -C is available on the other two devices.
More generally, the company states that any security key you choose must be FIDO certification (opens in a new tab) and of course have the right connection type for your device.
Apple states that security keys with a USB-C connector work with most of their devices, and those that use near-field communication (NFC) only work with iPhones from iPhone 6 onwards. They connect wirelessly to your device, but don’t use your wi-fi network, so it’s safe from prying eyes.
- Although a security key is not necessary to stay secure, using one of the keys The best password manager pretty much is.