Adding Another Layer of Security
How can you protect your company when passwords just aren't enough? What secondary challenge can you offer that's almost (but not quite) immune to hacking?
Enter Universal 2nd Factor (U2F).
The U2F protocol allows you to send a cryptographic challenge to a device (typically a key fob) owned by the user. A password starts the process, but the digital key is required to gain access.
The FIDO U2F protocol was developed in 2014, and since then, the standards have been honed, refined, and updated. More users are growing accustomed to the idea of cryptographic keys. Some even demand this protection to keep their data safe and secure.
The History of U2F
Most consumers know at least something about two-factor authentication. As bloggers explain, each time you must use a bank card and a PIN, you've used two sets of data to get into something you need. Universal 2nd Factor works in a similar manner, and it's something advocates have long pushed for.
In 2012, rumours of a Google project that used key fobs to replace standard keyword entries began appearing on industry blogs. Experts weren't sure how the tools would work, but excitement was building. Blogs with titles such as "The Plot to Kill the Password" kept interest alive.
In 2014, the
