Passwords are easier to figure out than you'd think. Though a USB security key may sound redundant on paper, it brings major benefits. How USB security keys fit into two-factor authentication

A couple have Lightning plugs to connect to iPhones and older iPads. Though they're most typically plugged into a computer's USB-A or USB-C port, some security keys feature wireless Bluetooth or NFC capabilities to connect to mobile devices too. Thanks to a chip inside that contains codes and protocols, each one of these physical keys can connect to online servers to verify that you are the person accessing whatever device you've plugged it into.

Some are so small that they barely stick out when plugged into a laptop. NFC-enabled devices must be either physically touching or within a few centimeters of each other for data transfer to occur.Security keys look like small USB drives and can be plugged into a wide collection of devices. To work, both devices must contain NFC chips, as transactions take place within a very short distance. Near-field communication transmits data through electromagnetic radio fields to enable two devices to communicate with each other. Understanding Near-Field Communication (NFC) NFC technology can operate in one of three primary modes: reader/writer, peer-to-peer, or card emulation.

It can also let you share content, establish or confirm a wireless connection, pair devices, connect Bluetooth-enabled devices and smartphones to other devices and computers and establish connections between two networked machines or devices.

NFC began in the payment-card industry and is evolving to include applications in numerous industries worldwide.

Such devices include mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and wearables.

Near-field communication (NFC) is a short-range wireless connectivity technology that lets NFC-enabled devices communicate with each other.

Nfc key