The IT giant Google has unveiled the latest generation of its Fido sticks for two-factor authentication. These are set to replace the previously available devices and come with a key upgrade: support for Fido keys, also known as passkeys.
This might seem surprising at first, given that the passkey feature is initially intended to be provided by the operating system for passwordless logins. They are even set to be synchronized via the cloud, which was announced last year.
However, Google’s decision to explicitly support passkeys alongside its Titan authentication tokens is explained by the company: “We’re excited about the potential of passkeys, but we understand it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone’s security.
Some people need a solution that isn’t reliant on smartphones, or they use devices that don’t support passkeys – everyone has different security approaches, but we all share a common goal: stopping attacks.”
Passkeys are cryptographic keys used to log into websites or services that support the WebAuthn standard. In fact, they consist of two keys: a public one stored with a web service and a private one retained on the user’s device.
For relevant online services, users simply need to log in with a username and unlock the passkey using their fingerprint, face, or a PIN – and they’re logged in without needing to know anything about private and public keys.
Similar to before, Google offers the Titan Key in two versions with either USB-A or USB-C connections. Both also feature an NFC interface for quick use on mobile devices. The new Titan sticks can store up to 250 passkeys for online services, which are increasingly supported by major platforms. This includes offerings from Google itself, as well as WhatsApp, PayPal, and GitHub. The devices are priced at 35 euros in the Google Store.
READ MORE: Unveiling Picoboy: A Mini Gaming Marvel Redefining Fun with Raspberry Pi!
