The 10 Best U2F Security Keys
This wiki has been updated 25 times since it was first published in December of 2017. As more and more passwords fail against attacks from hackers, engineers are working to develop additional ways to keep your information safe. U2F security keys are being lauded as the best option available for universal second step authentication, and the models on our list represent the greatest the industry has to offer currently. Grab one now before you're compromised. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Yubico YubiKey 5 NFC
2. HyperFido Titanium Pro
3. Yubico YubiKey 5Ci
Editor's Notes
December 22, 2020:
As the ports and ways we connect with our devices change, it is important that our security keys also evolve to reflect that. With this in mind, we updated our selections to include more models with Type-C connectors, such as the Yubico YubiKey 5Ci, which also has a lightening connector; the Solo Tap; and the Thetis Fido, which actually has a Type-A on it but comes with an adapter. Also, because more people are keeping sensitive information on phones, we wanted to add options that feature either NFC pairing or Bluetooth, like the Yubico YubiKey 5 NFC, Thetis BLE, and the previously mentioned Solo Tap.
April 02, 2019:
It can be quite a task to keep all of your information safe online. Maybe once it was OK to use the same, or a similar, password to access all of your accounts, but no more. Trying to remember dozens of different passwords is difficult for anyone though. That's where these U2F keys come in handy. They will unlock all of your different accounts and are not susceptible to remote hacking or phishing attacks. If you want the highest level of security, your best options are the UControl Qkey, the Kensington VeriMark, and the CryptoTrust OnlyKey, since they all add an additional layer of protection, such as a biometric thumbprint or PIN code. The HyperFido K18 is without a doubt the most budget-friendly option, and its titanium build makes it nearly indestructible. We liked the compact YubiKey 5C Nano because it supports a variety of protocols and plugs into the newer USB Type-C standard ports, while the Thetis BLE, Yubico Y-256, and Feitian ePass are nice because they can be used on mobile devices.
Special Honors
Titan Security Key The Titan Security Key is available in a variety of models, so whether you need a Type-A or Type-C connector, and Bluetooth or NFC pairing, there is one to fit your needs. It utilizes specially developed firmware and is compatible with Google's Advanced Protection Program, store.google.com
4. Thetis BLE
5. Thetis Fido
6. Yubico Y-256
7. Kensington VeriMark
8. HyperFido Pro Mini
9. CryptoTrust OnlyKey
10. Solo Tap
A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.