Physical security keys provide extra protection for your Apple ID!
Apple introduces security keys as an additional layer of protection against user-targeted attacks, such as identity theft (phishing), information hacking or any type of scam. This additional layer of security offers compatible support for security keys or physical devices that can verify your account ID instead of using the traditional passcode.
Simply put, the extra protection provided by security keys means that if someone had your Apple ID and password, they still couldn’t access your account without your physical security keyWhat replaces the verification code provided by two-factor authentication.
What are the security keys?
In advance, you should know that these physical Apple ID tools must be FIDO® certified and have a connector compatible with Apple devices that you use daily Among the most recommended are the YubiKey 5C NFC (Near Field Communication) keys and the YubiKey 5Ci keys, which work with most Mac and iPhone models. There is also FEITAN ePass K9, which works with older Mac models and most iPhone models.
What do I need to activate the security keys?
There are two things that are essential to be able to activate the security keys. The first one is to set up a passcode or passcode on the Apple device that you are using, and the second is that said device has software supporting this function. Otherwise, you will need to update the OS version.
An important recommendation
An almost obligatory suggestion from Apple is that users activate at least two security keys; that is, two physical keys, because if you only have one and you lose it, you risk losing access to your ID account permanently.
Have two security keys configured means you can keep them in more than one safe place. You can keep one at home and one at your office, or you can take one with you when you travel while the other is kept in a box or safe at home.
How to Enable Security Keys on iPhone and iPad
Here we explain step by step:
- open Setting on your device from iOS 16.3.
- Toca your name, then tap password and security.
- press add security keys and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Check the devices associated with your Apple ID then choose Keep me signed in on all active devices and select devices you no longer want access to to your account and log out of them.
At any moment you can delete the security keys at any time by repeating the steps described above, and touching the option “delete” all the security keys that appear there. This will amount to using a six-digit verification code for two-factor authentication.
How to Enable Security Keys on Mac
- haz click on the apple symbolin the menu bar of your Mac running macOS Ventura 13.3, then choose System Settings.
- haz click on your name at the top from the sidebar.
- Click on “Password and security”.
- in the menu section “Security Keys”click add, then follow the on-screen instructions.
Once you’ve completed these steps, you’ll be able to review the devices linked to your Apple ID, with options to stay signed in or sign out of any linked Apple device.
Al Just like on iPhone, you can stop using security keys on your Mac.. To do that, follow the following steps.
- Go to “System Settings”, click on your name.
- Tap on “password and security”.
- Go to “security keys” and select “delete all security keys”.
With the steps above, your Apple ID will revert to using the traditional six-digit verification code.
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