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. If you lose all of your trusted devices and security keys, you could be locked out of your account permanently.Security keys look like small USB drives and can be plugged into a wide collection of devices. You're responsible for maintaining access to your security keys.

A security key can act as the second piece of information, instead of the six-digit verification code that is normally used.īecause you use a physical key instead of the six-digit code, security keys strengthen the two-factor authentication process and help prevent your second authentication factor from being intercepted or requested by an attacker.

The first piece of information is your Apple ID password.

With two-factor authentication - which is designed to make sure that you're the only one who can access your Apple ID account - you need to provide two pieces of information to sign in with your Apple ID to a new device or on the web.

Security Keys for Apple ID is an optional advanced security feature designed for people who want extra protection from targeted attacks, such as phishing or social engineering scams.

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