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

I currently store my backup keys in Bitwarden, but like you said, that's protected by my OTP solution.

I see two options here:

store backup keys in a completely separate way (paper in a safe, encrypted off-prem storage with security key storing that password, etc)
have the OTP running in lots of places - currently just my phone, but could run it on my desktop and laptop as well

The first is probably better, but I'm planning on the second because I'm less worried about a physical breach of my home by a technical attacker than me losing/breaking my phone at a really bad time and needing my wife to read off an OTP token over the phone in a pinch.

I do have a Yubikey that I don't use though, so maybe I'll try out the more secure option.

[–] haui_lemmy@lemmy.giftedmc.com 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Pretty good idea with the yubikey. If they werent 50 bucks I‘d get one but thats a little much for an optional security device that has this one function. Still neat though.

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

I've got one, but I don't use it because the main reason I got it (secure my Vanguard account) has a simple SMS backup, so it's no more secure than SMS... My phone also doesn't have NFC and the plug is USB-A on the Yubikey, so I can only use it on my desktop unless I carry a dongle around.

But I think things are better now at other services (and USB-C security keys exist), and I'm planning to redo a lot of my online accounts. I'm also getting a new phone soonish, so NFC will be an option. Just wondering if others find value in using them.

[–] haui_lemmy@lemmy.giftedmc.com 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Understandable. I‘ve had a recent „near miss“ if you will and since then I thought I might wanna check my security as a whole. So maybe I‘ll end up with that as well.

Is it possible to use generated keys as a login option on websites btw? I know its usable for ssh and git but i dont know about other sites. If you made one key for each site, they could never leak your password as they dont have it. Would be a ton of work though.

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

That's essentially what FIDO2 is (the security keys I'm talking about), but instead of public/private key, it's challenge/response (similar enough security-wise). More and more services support it, but unfortunately the really important ones don't (financial, government websites, etc). So you're left with mostly social media and other tech sites.

[–] haui_lemmy@lemmy.giftedmc.com 1 points 7 months ago

Thanks for mentioning that! I‘ll probably need to check that out then.