You also can't manage some advanced features or reset the key without using a desktop app. I wish the key had both USB-A and USB-C, though - Yubico doesn't currently offer any models that do, which means you'll need an adapter to use the 5C NFC with a lot of desktop computers (or to get the YubiKey 5 NFC, which lacks USB-C). Its additional bells and whistles, like storing app-based 2FA credentials and generating a 32-character static password, are great bonuses.

It's small enough not to feel cumbersome on a key ring or in a wallet, it's durable, and it supports all the security features you could ask for, including the FIDO2 standard that hopes to eventually do away with passwords altogether. But for my money, this is the one I'd choose. There aren't a ton of two-factor security keys on the market, and Yubico makes a healthy portion of the ones that are. Should you buy it? Rating 9.0/10 YubiKey 5C NFC This static password can be manually changed, too, but only using the desktop YubiKey Manager app. That's stronger security than I think I need, but the option is nice to have. The idea here, Yubico says, is that you can enter a few characters you have memorized, then tap the key to load in the 32 additional characters, making for passwords that are too long to feasibly remember, but don't have to be stored in a password manager. It's generally a breeze to set up and use, and considering how much sensitive stuff is probably tied to your accounts, it's a good idea.Įach YubiKey also has a ' static password' feature you can access by plugging the key in while a text field is selected and tapping the gold circle (to fill the password in, the key identifies itself as a hardware keyboard). For that type of authentication, you either tap the 5C NFC to your device or plug it in and touch the little gold circle when prompted, and that's that. Some services - Google, Dropbox, and Twitter among them - can be configured to require the physical presence of a U2F security key (like this one!) to let you log in after entering your password.

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