Yubico’s YubiKeys Series 5 Is Now Available in Singapore

Yubico’s Yubikeys are now officially available in Singapore. It expanded its presence in Singapore by recruiting a regional manager, Tim Murphy, to boost sales efforts and to establish distribution channels across the region.

Today I learned (TIL), that Yubico is a Swedish and American company.

In Singapore, Yubikeys are being distributed by DT Asia.

Yubikey is a security key that gives you two-factor, multi-factor, and passwordless authentication. Websites like Facebook, Google, Google Apps, GitHub, BitBucket, Dropbox, etc., are already supporting it. Recently, Microsoft announces support for password-less login to Microsoft accounts.

I have reviewed the Yubico FIDO U2F Security Key last year. That key is dated as it only supports FIDO U2F protocol.

Yubico YubiKeys Series 5 - Media Drop Package - Front — Yubico YubiKeys Series 5 – Media Drop Package – Front

Yubico YubiKeys Series 5 - Media Drop Package - Back — Yubico YubiKeys Series 5 – Media Drop Package – Back

Yubico YubiKeys Series 5 - Media Drop Package — Yubico YubiKeys Series 5 – Media Drop Package

Yubico YubiKeys Series 5 - Media Drop - Front — Yubico YubiKeys Series 5 – Media Drop – Front

Yubico YubiKeys Series 5 - Media Drop - Open — Yubico YubiKeys Series 5 – Media Drop – Open

Yubico YubiKeys Series 5 - Media Drop - Back — Yubico YubiKeys Series 5 – Media Drop – Back

YubiKey 5 Series consists of four different type of keys, YubiKey 5 NFC, YubiKey 5C, YubiKey 5 Nano, and YubiKey 5C Nano.

Yubico YubiKeys Series 5 - With Packaging — Yubico YubiKeys Series 5 – With Packaging

The three differences between a YubiKey 5 Key and Yubico Security Key are the protocols it supports, form factor, and USB-C support.

Since Yubico Security Key is dated, it only supports USB-A port with FIDO U2F protocol.

On the other hand, YubiKey 5 Key supports either USB-A or USB-C port. In addition to the FIDO U2F protocol, YubiKey 5 Key also supports Smartcard (PIV), Yubico OTP, OpenPGP, OATH-TOTP, OATH-HOTP, and Challenge-Response.

YubiKey 5 NFC retails for US$45 (S$62), and as the name implies, it supports touch-based authentication for NFC supported Android and iOS devices and applications. If you are not using NFC, it works with your computer USB-A port as well. It is designed to be brought along together with your keys, and hence there is a keyring hole.

YubiKey 5 NFC - Plugged In — YubiKey 5 NFC – Plugged In

On the other hand, YubiKey 5 Nano, comes without NFC and retails for US$50 (S$69). Instead, it is designed to be plugged permanently to your computer’s USB-A port and hence the much smaller and flushed form factor.

YubiKey 5 Nano - Plugged In — YubiKey 5 Nano – Plugged In

YubiKey 5C is the USB-C equivalent of the YubiKey 5 NFC but without the NFC. It retails for US$50 (S$69).

YubiKey 5C - Plugged In — YubiKey 5C – Plugged In

Similarly, YubiKey 5C Nano is the is the USB-C equivalent of the YubiKey 5 Nano and it retails for US$60 (S$83).

YubiKey 5C Nano - Plugged In — YubiKey 5C Nano – Plugged In

Personally, I am using the Yubico FIDO U2F Security Key on my iMac and YubiKey 5C Nano for my MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.

Google
To set up your security key with Google, visit myaccount.google.com/signinoptions/two-step-verification.

Microsoft
To set up your security key with Microsoft, visit account.live.com/proofs/fido/manage?setupfido=1. Sadly, it doesn’t support Chrome. You need to be using Microsoft Edge in Windows 10 version 1809 and above.

Facebook
To set up your security key with Facebook, visit facebook.com/security/2fac/settings/.