Universal 2nd Factor

FIDO U2F logo.
A U2F security key by Yubico.

Universal 2nd Factor (U2F) is an open authentication standard[1] that strengthens[2] and simplifies[3] two-factor authentication using specialized USB or NFC devices[4] based on similar security technology found in smart cards.[5] While initially developed by Google and Yubico, with contribution from NXP, the standard[6] is now hosted by the FIDO Alliance.[3][7]

U2F security keys can currently be used with Google accounts as a method for two-step verification and is supported by Google Chrome since version 38.[2] As of August 12, 2015, U2F security keys can also be used as an additional method for two-step verification for Dropbox[8] and as of October 1, 2015, for GitHub.[9]

Chrome is currently the only browser supporting U2F. Microsoft is working on support for Windows 10[10] and the Edge[11] browser. Mozilla is integrating it into Firefox.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Turner, Adam (November 5, 2014). "Google security keys may offer extra layer of online protection". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Using Security Key for 2-Step Verification". Google Inc. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  3. 1 2 Bradley, Tony (October 21, 2014). "How a USB key drive could remove the hassles from two-factor authentication". PCWorld. IDG Consumer & SMB. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  4. ↑ "FIDO Universal 2nd Factor". Yubico AB. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  5. ↑ Diallo, Amadou (November 30, 2013). "Google Wants To Make Your Passwords Obsolete". Forbes. Forbes.com LLC. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  6. ↑ "FIDO Alliance – download specifications". FIDO Alliance. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  7. ↑ Krebs, Brian (October 14, 2014). "Google Accounts Now Support Security Keys". Krebs on Security. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  8. ↑ Heim, Patrick; Patel, Jay (August 12, 2015). "Introducing U2F support for secure authentication". Dropbox Blog. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  9. ↑ Olsen, Risk (October 1, 2015). "GitHub supports Universal 2nd Factor authentication". Github Blog. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  10. ↑ Ingalls, Dustin (February 13, 2015). "Microsoft Announces FIDO Support Coming to Windows 10". Windows Blog. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Developer Resources - Platform Status". Microsoft Edge Dev. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Bug 1065729 - Implement the FIDO Alliance u2f javascript API". Mozilla Bugtracker. Retrieved November 2, 2015.


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, December 19, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.