Facebook Gets Physical For Safer Logins

Facebook has been offering the two factor authentication login option for a while now, and is now trying to make its use easier than ever before. So, instead of entering a confirmation code after entering the password, users can simply tap their physical security key, and they’re in.

Aside from making the login process faster and easier, the option offers protection against phishing attacks, as you don’t have to enter a security code, and phishers have no way of getting your security key. Mark James, IT Security Specialist at ESET commented below.
Mark James, IT Security Specialist at ESET:

“Any security measures for social networking that will decrease the chances of breached data from elsewhere being used to gain access to other accounts has the thumbs up from me. Password reuse is one of those nagging pains that never seems to go away and creeps back to haunt us when we least expect it. We can’t always control or stop companies from being breached but we can of course control what they can do with the stolen information. If our accounts are protected with 2 factor or 2 step verification then someone knowing my login and password may not actually cause any real harm. Something that makes life easier for the user also has to be embraced, we all want easy; our existence strives towards faster and better. Anything that is safe and encourages the user to embrace security and take steps to keep our private data safe has to be a great step in the right direction.”