Physical security keys are a great option for those who want enhanced security for their online accounts. Services like Dropbox and Google already offer support and now Facebook has joined the bandwagon as well. The company today announced that Facebook USB Key support is now live. What this means is that users will be able to prove their identity by simply inserting a special USB stick into the PC instead of having a code sent to their phone, which is what normally happens if you have two-factor authentication enabled.
Don’t get me wrong. Two-factor authentication is a great layer of security on its own. If you haven’t already activated it for any of your online profiles, you should go ahead and do it.
However, if you’re not irked by the thought of having to carry another item on your keychain, then by all means, take full advantage of the Facebook USB Key support. It will provide you with an enhanced security layer as it effectively eliminates the chance of phishing or man-in-the-middle attacks.
Not to mention the fact that this method is significantly faster as well. You don’t have wait for a code and then punch it into the machine. Just plug in the USB key and you’re good to go. Just to be clear, it’s not mandatory for Facebook users to enable this security feature, but it’s nice to know that the company is now offering this to those who want it.
Those who are interested in taking advantage of this can purchase security keys from companies like Yubico. Facebook has built this feature on the Universal 2nd Factor standard that’s hosted by the FIDO Alliance.