Google Streamlines Its Titan Keys by Adding NFC and Ditching Bluetooth

Google’s Titan Key has been credited with eliminating phishing attacks on Google employees, and now this week Google is updating its line of safety dongles with wider help for NFC.

In a brand new Google Security blog, Google explains that going ahead, its Titan Security Keys will solely be accessible in two configurations: a dongle with a USB-A connector, and a dongle with a USB-C connector, with each fashions that includes help for NFC.

The impetus behind the change is that Google says with most Android telephones and iPhones that includes help for NFC, help for Bluetooth had grow to be considerably redundant. On prime of that, with some safety researchers claiming the Bluetooth protocol has grow to be overly complicated and a possible supply of safety exploits, switching over to NFC ought to enhance that Titan Key’s safety credentials even additional.

Thankfully, Google says that anyone who already owns an older Titan Key with Bluetooth will be capable to proceed utilizing their dongle as regular, with Google persevering with to honor warranties for any present units.

Now, Google says selecting between USB-A and USB-C Titan Key dongles is so simple as choosing the one which works with the ports in your laptop. Users can depend on NFC when utilizing the Titan Key with their cellphone, or just plug it into their laptop when utilizing a Titan Key with a laptop computer or desktop.

The solely different distinction other than the connector that comes on the dongle is that the USB-C mannequin prices $5 extra ($35) than the USB-A model ($30), although Google says the USB-A mannequin does include a USB-A to USB-C adapter included.

Google’s Titan Key is predicated on Google’s Titan chip and was initially launched again in 2018 as Google’s tackle comparable devices from Yubikey and others. And other than the Titan Key itself, Google has additionally included the Titan chip in different Google units going way back to the Pixel 3 so as to assist enhance on-device safety.

The new Google Titan Key with NFC is out there in the present day on the Google Store.