For social network companies, keeping the accounts of their users secure is one of their highest priorities which leads to implement various types of systems. Facebook has recently announced that users now have the option to use a security key as a way to secure their accounts with a physical device.
Facebook has also revealed that it has built a support for a new to maintain account security by using an experimental NFC login feature. This is the first time that such a system has ever been deployed for a such a large platform.
The security key feature is part of Facebook’s two-step authentication system. It adds a second layer of security in case the password of a user is compromised. Normally, the second step consists of a string of number and letters which are sent over by test or through an app to the user. However, Facebook has decided to make the security key available through a physical device. More specifically, a smart USB drive which needs to be inserted into your computer every time you log in.
The feature requires that users purchase such a device and carry with them at all times, much like ordinary USB drive which you can wear on your keyring. The end result of the feature allows you to more easily and quickly introduce the required security key than just waiting for a text message, as long as you have the drive on you. This type of security system is already in use by a variety of services and companies like Dropbox, Google, and more.
Facebook’s intent in developing a security key that would work with a USB drive was to create more options for two-factor logins, thus allowing users more flexibility on how they want to keep their accounts safe.
With this purpose in mind, Facebook has also implemented a system which allows the security key over NFC frequency. This system is already in use for payments and other transactions of sensitive data. This system will be mostly used for authentication on mobile devices, which normally don’t have USB ports. This feature is currently only available on Android devices and requires the latest version of the Google Authenticator App.
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