Not only do many people use weak or similar passwords for every account, but advanced algorithms and powerful computers can figure out many “strong” passwords with enough time and effort.įurthermore, if you reuse the passwords and usernames on multiple sites, you multiply the risk that those login credentials will be exposed in a data breach. Passwords are easier to figure out than you'd think. Though a USB security key may sound redundant on paper, it brings major benefits. How USB security keys fit into two-factor authentication A couple have Lightning plugs to connect to iPhones and older iPads. Though they're most typically plugged into a computer's USB-A or USB-C port, some security keys feature wireless Bluetooth or NFC capabilities to connect to mobile devices too.

Thanks to a chip inside that contains codes and protocols, each one of these physical keys can connect to online servers to verify that you are the person accessing whatever device you've plugged it into. Some are so small that they barely stick out when plugged into a laptop.

Security keys look like small USB drives and can be plugged into a wide collection of devices.

Usb stick password manager