Privacy

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Are hardware security keys worth it? If so, which to pick? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 7 months ago by sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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This isn't strictly a privacy question as a security one, so I'm asking this in the context of individuals, not organizations.

I currently use OTP 2FA everywhere I can, though some services I use support hardware security keys like the Yubikey. Getting a hardware key may be slightly more convenient since I wouldn't need to type anything in but could just press a button, but there's added risk with losing the key (I can easily backup OTP configs).

Do any of you use hardware security keys? If so, do you have a good argument in favor or against specific keys? (e.g. Yubikey, Nitrokey, etc)

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[–] jet@hackertalks.com 3 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Yubikey bio has a fingerprint reader built into it. Which is very nice. Even if the device you're using is compromised you will never expose your pin.

The only key also has that advantage.

[–] hertg@infosec.pub 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

The current bio model does not support PIV (Smartcard) tho, so it cant be used for PGP/SSH. They recently announced a new revision that can, but its not generally available yet.

https://www.yubico.com/blog/introducing-the-expanded-yubikey-bio-series-yubikey-bio-multi-protocol-edition-early-access/

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 2 points 7 months ago

Oh that's awesome! Thanks for letting me know

[–] Gooey0210@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Any key has a pin? 🤔

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

External entry of the pin, means you avoid compromising it on a compromised computer.

[–] Gooey0210@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

It really depends on your thread model

In my opinion the fingerprint won't do any difference anyway

Who are we protecting against?

Hackers? They can't press the button

Thieves? They don't have your pin

Someone close who knows your pin? Maybe, but this is really an overkill

Evil maid? If somebody can pull up evil maid attack, they can hack the fingerprint anyway

Governments? They hack or force you to unlock it anyway

Summary: my opinion is that fingerprint is an overkill which doesn't protect from any real thread, but costs more and lacks some functions

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

If I compromise your system. I can record the pin. Then I just need to steal the device.

[–] Gooey0210@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago

Think, who are you, and who am i?

I mean, how would you do it, and just why?

This is a very very very improbable scenario, too complicated, and too unlikely

There could be a thread model that would work with this feature well, but I don't think any of us even theoretically is one of those people that would benefit from it

Define your thread model, and work from it

Most of the people have two main threads: hackers, and thieves, not hacker-thieves