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] and Opera since version 40. U2F security keys can also be used as an additional method of two-step verification for Dropbox (as of August 12, 2015),[8] GitHub (as of October 1, 2015),[9] GitLab (as of June 22, 2016),[10] and Bitbucket (as of June 22, 2016).[11]

Chrome and Opera are currently the only browsers supporting U2F natively. Microsoft is working on FIDO 2.0 support for Windows 10[12] and the Edge[13] browser, but has no plans to include U2F support. Mozilla is integrating it into Firefox, and support can currently be enabled through an addon.[14][15]

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.com/blog. GitHub. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  10. Nwaigwe, Amara (June 22, 2016). "Support for Universal 2nd Factor Authentication". GitLab Blog. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  11. Kells, TJ (June 22, 2016). "Universal 2nd Factor (U2F) now supported in Bitbucket Cloud". Bitbucket Blog. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  12. Ingalls, Dustin (February 13, 2015). "Microsoft Announces FIDO Support Coming to Windows 10". Windows Blog. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  13. "Developer Resources - Platform Status". Microsoft Edge Dev. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  14. "Bug 1065729 - Implement the FIDO Alliance u2f javascript API". Mozilla Bugtracker. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  15. "U2F Support Addon". Retrieved May 8, 2016.


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