YubicoYubiKey 5 NFC - Two-factor authentication security key, fits USB-A ports and works with NFC supported mobile devices

The product is great. I wanted a physical key that I can carry on my keys and the image above highlights how compact and nicely it fits on there. The appearance is simple and straight to the point.The product itself is really great but the availability of uses is limited due to companies not using it very often.It however is a very quick and simple product which saves you time with accessing your information and other websites. By implying taping your device to authenticate.I find some devices like my MacBook struggle with the connectivity or even the app not working at all.Definitely considering buying this product though, if you care about a secure method and physical key that can backup and keep you safe online.

The Yubikey is a very good very secure device but like anything in the IT security world, it takes a while to learn how to use it and set it up and of course the methods vary, depending on your device types. And buy two, you need a spare just in case you lose one.I use Windows and Android so I have the Yubico authenticator app on my phone and use that to access many of my accounts in the traditional way, by adding an authenticator app to whatever account I want to use the Yubikey to access. When the QR code is presented, with the Yubico app open on the phone and in the accounts page, I press the 3 dots top right then add account, scan the QR code and save the account by re-scanning the Yubikey. I DONT input the presented code to the account yet though, I REPEAT the process for my spare YubiKey's first then when I do the last key and the account is added to all the keys, then I complete the process by adding the one time passcode as requested. Easy!On my PC I plug the key into my USB port and input the pin that I setup using the Yubico authenticator app from Windows store, this way I have to physically touch the copper contact on the key to log into whatever account I have setup using FIDO in this case versus NFC that the phone uses.There are plenty of videos on YouTube showing how to set these keys up, it just takes a day or so to get your head around it if you are new to passkeys, but what's a day or so of learning for the extra security these keys give you?Lastly, some of the reviews are concerned about vulnerabilities in the older firmware but the two keys I purchased have firmware 5.7.1 which is the latest firmware. As for one reviewers post about a criminal running a program on your device, that assumes they have stolen the device AND KEY, can get past the device sign in security and also know the pin number for the key too which you should set for NFC and FIDO. If somebody has your phone, can access it, has your key and knows the pin to it, has your accounts and knows the usernames and passwords, vulnerabilities are already a moot point.These are very good devices adding a level of security that is just not possible with other 2FA methods.

These days it's the basis. I have a few of these keys, and I can't imagine security without them. 2FA yes but only offline! No SMS, no passkey on a device we don't control, or in the cloud etc. No intermediaries, i.e. “we want to have copies just in case, for your safety” ha ha of course. It's only safe outside the network. Login, password, that can be intercepted, but a key that's in your pocket is impossible. And that element that really protects you.

The yubikey is small, thin and seems robust enough not to worry it dangling from your house keys. I heard mixed views on just how much or little you should look after it so I bought a case (just in car). I bought the USB C connector with NFC and a couple of adapters so that I could use it with my Android and my PCs. Despite my current version iPad with type C connector the key will not work with it (you’ll have to get the Lightening key and spend a further £30 on a Lightening to C adapter from Apple to get it working (how ridiculous is that?). They are, however, easy enough to set up but this varies with the service you’re using. Amazon was the easiest, followed by Google. Don’t think eBay support a physical key (despite Yubico stating they are compatible). Paypal definitely don’t (shame on them).The bad news is that I received the older firmware version (which cannot be updated). The new firmware was released in May 2024 and allows for 100 passkeys rather than a measly 25 for the previous version. There are other significant improvements too, so it’s not worth paying the same price for the old firmware. I contacted the seller after I received the keys to find out that they ship whichever version they happen to have. I then contacted Yubico via Amazon to confirm that they WILL supply the latest version via Amazon.Otherwise, I think this is a great product and wish more services would support it over software 2FA. It’s a very slow take up and some companies (including banks) do not support physical security keys. Some banks do have their own versions (HSBC) but Starling and ANNA Money rely on OTP via text (not secure). Paypal and eBay doesn’t support them either.There is a question of implementation by many services. Most insist on a backup to access your account should you lose your key. That’s great except it’s straightforward enough to just select that less secure option on login.I hope take-up will accelerate though as breaches seem to be on the increase. At least I’m covered when that happens.