A YubiKey is a small USB device that supports multiple authentication protocols to help protect access to computers, networks, websites and other online services. The small device looks like a standard USB flash drive and can be attached to a user’s house or car keychain for easy access and to help prevent losing the device.
YubiKey customers in both consumer and business environments can use YubiKeys to efficiently and securely access computer logins, VPN, password managers, social networking sites and other online services, content management systems, and more, without needing to remember a large number of login credentials and passwords.
Multifactor Authentication Support Offered by YubiKey
YubiKey products support OATH (TOTP or HOTP), smart card (PIV), OpenPGP, FIDO U2F, and Yubico One-Time Password authentication and cryptographic protocols, and the devices work on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux operating systems. The developer of the YubiKey, Yubico, also offers free open-source tools to configure YubiKeys beyond the device’s default settings.
The YubiKey product lineup currently consists of the YubiKey 4 (which debuted in November 2015), the YubiKey 4 Nano (a smaller version of the YubiKey) and the YubiKey NEO, which communicates using both USB and Near Field Communication (NFC). Pricing for YubiKey devices starts at $40.
