What is Security Keys for Apple ID and why does it matter? (2024)

FAQs

What is Security Keys for Apple ID and why does it matter? ›

Security Keys for Apple ID is an optional advanced security feature designed for people who want extra protection from targeted attacks, such as phishing or social engineering scams.

A security key is a small third-party hardware device that you can use to verify your identity when signing in to your Apple ID account. It replaces six-digit verification codes sent to you by text message or generated by one of your devices.

You need to set up at least two security keys so you can use one of them as a backup in case the other one is lost, damaged, or stolen.

Key Takeaways

Hardware Security Keys are physical devices that provide an extra layer of authentication for online accounts and sensitive data. Advantages include convenience, protection against phishing attacks, and multiple options to choose from depending on your needs.

Privacy: Even if you lose your Hardware Security Key, it has no identifiable information about what it is used for or who it belongs to. In contrast, an authenticator app mentions the website name and some identifiable account information because the passcode needs to be manually read by a human.

Hardware security key pros

A couple of advantages of using security keys are they use very strong encryption and require no cellular or Internet connection to work. They're using small very durable devices that can live on our keychain and are easy to use, once you've set them up on your computing device.

We recommend that you use two-factor authentication and protect your device with a passcode (or login password on Mac) and Face ID or Touch ID, if your device supports it. Two-factor authentication requires iOS 9 or later, OS X El Capitan or later, or iCloud for Windows 5 or later.

Passkeys are a relatively new alternative to using passwords to access online accounts. Security keys are a physical device that you can use as a second form of authentication when logging in to an account. Both options can vastly increase your online security compared to only using a username and password.

Passkeys sync across a user's devices using iCloud Keychain. iCloud Keychain is end-to-end encrypted with strong cryptographic keys not known to Apple and rate limited to help prevent brute-force attacks even from a privileged position on the cloud backend, and are recoverable even if the user loses all their devices.

Unlike passkeys, which are software-based and tied to a user's device, security keys are tangible objects that users physically possess. These keys store cryptographic information, enabling strong authentication and protecting against various forms of attacks, including phishing and password theft.

What type of security is the Apple ID? ›

Two-factor authentication

To sign in for the first time on any new device, two pieces of information are required—the Apple ID password and a six-digit verification code that's displayed on the user's trusted devices or sent to a trusted phone number.

You can use security keys as a passwordless sign-in method within your organization. A security key is a physical device that's used with a unique PIN to sign in to your work or school account.

Many people access their online banking apps and work email from their smartphones. Without an authenticator app, these accounts are easier to hack and access by strangers, and you could become a victim of identity theft.

Security keys are one of the most convenient 2FA methods, as well as biometric authentication. Unlike One-Time Passwords (OTP) or Time-based One-Time Passwords (TOTP), all a user needs to do to authenticate their identity with a security key is tap or insert their key into their device.

The YubiKey advantage

Storing your credentials on a hardware key is safer than storing them on a mobile phone. Your credential stays safe in the secure element of the YubiKey and cannot be extracted.

Key control is an access control system you can use to keep track of your company's keys. It allows you to be sure your keys are being used by authorized people only. The rise of cybercrime has pushed people to focus their attention on improving information security and high-tech security measures.

This gives you more control of your account recovery methods and can help prevent an attacker from gaining access to and taking control of your account. However, if you lose your recovery key and can't access one of your trusted devices, you'll be locked out of your account permanently.

A network security key is the password you enter to connect to a Wi-Fi network. It establishes a connection between the router and the devices that connect to the Wi-Fi network. A network security key helps protect a Wi-Fi network and the people using it from snoops or intruders trying to piggyback on your connection.

Security keys are small USB keys or wireless dongles that work as a more advanced form of multifactor authentication than text messages or even authentication apps. They make it much harder for unauthorized people to gain access to your accounts.