This isn’t strictly a privacy question as a security one, so I’m asking this in the context of individuals, not organizations.

I currently use OTP 2FA everywhere I can, though some services I use support hardware security keys like the Yubikey. Getting a hardware key may be slightly more convenient since I wouldn’t need to type anything in but could just press a button, but there’s added risk with losing the key (I can easily backup OTP configs).

Do any of you use hardware security keys? If so, do you have a good argument in favor or against specific keys? (e.g. Yubikey, Nitrokey, etc)

  • jet@hackertalks.com
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    8 months ago

    External entry of the pin, means you avoid compromising it on a compromised computer.

    • Gooey0210@sh.itjust.works
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      8 months ago

      It really depends on your thread model

      In my opinion the fingerprint won’t do any difference anyway

      Who are we protecting against?

      Hackers? They can’t press the button

      Thieves? They don’t have your pin

      Someone close who knows your pin? Maybe, but this is really an overkill

      Evil maid? If somebody can pull up evil maid attack, they can hack the fingerprint anyway

      Governments? They hack or force you to unlock it anyway


      Summary: my opinion is that fingerprint is an overkill which doesn’t protect from any real thread, but costs more and lacks some functions

      • jet@hackertalks.com
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        8 months ago

        If I compromise your system. I can record the pin. Then I just need to steal the device.

        • Gooey0210@sh.itjust.works
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          8 months ago

          Think, who are you, and who am i?

          I mean, how would you do it, and just why?

          This is a very very very improbable scenario, too complicated, and too unlikely

          There could be a thread model that would work with this feature well, but I don’t think any of us even theoretically is one of those people that would benefit from it

          Define your thread model, and work from it

          Most of the people have two main threads: hackers, and thieves, not hacker-thieves