Hardware security key experiences

[mid_gen]

Like many people, I use an authenticator app and 2fa for most stuff these days. Which is grand, but I'm also very concerned about what would happen if someone got into the account that backs them all up.

Been considering getting a few Yubikeys to lock down my main MS account. Wondered if anyone is using them and has good/bad things to say....

 

[mid_gen]

bad : you loose the key and you only have 1...
so make sure you get at least 2.
remember hardware keys dont work with every service.

Got a couple of the standard Yubico Security Key NFC. Setup on my MS and Google accounts and removed all the sms/phone number based 2 factor. Pretty painless.

Still use authenticator app for primary 2FA, these are just the backups, but without the possibility of someone cloning my SIM.

 

[mid_gen]

its why you always buy more than one and test regularly.
but 2years seems to be bandied arounbd for regular daily use.

I don't see why a yubikey or similar well made passkey would fail after two years. It's completely solid state, and powered through USB, the algorithm is good for 30 years.

Just having a look around and plenty people are happily using theirs since 2014/15.

Badically, chances of both keys failing before you can get a backup is remote. Chances of that happening at the same time as my primary authenticator app is lost, is basically zero..... so I'm pretty happy with the setup.