{"id":29754,"date":"2019-10-17T20:08:31","date_gmt":"2019-10-17T20:08:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/16937c40-1e95-4d4b-807c-0805ab2743ac"},"modified":"2019-10-17T20:08:31","modified_gmt":"2019-10-17T20:08:31","slug":"yubico-security-keys-can-now-be-used-to-log-into-windows-computers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.threatshub.org\/blog\/yubico-security-keys-can-now-be-used-to-log-into-windows-computers\/","title":{"rendered":"Yubico security keys can now be used to log into Windows computers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Yubico<\/span>Image: Yubico<\/span> <\/p>\n

Starting today, users can use hardware security keys manufactured by Swedish company Yubico to log into a local Windows OS account.<\/p>\n

After more than six months of testing<\/a>, the company released today the first stable version of the Yubico Login for Windows application.<\/p>\n

Once installed on a Windows computer, the application will allow users to configure a Yubico security key (known as YubyKey) to secure local Windows OS accounts.<\/p>\n

The Yubico key will not replace the Windows account password but will work as a second authentication factor. Users will have to enter their password, and then plug in a Yubico key into a USB port to finish the login process.<\/p>\n

Yubico hopes the keys will be used to secure high-value computers storing sensitive data that are used in the field, away from secured networks. Such devices are often susceptible to theft or getting lost.<\/p>\n

If the devices are not encrypted, attackers have various ways at their disposal to bypass normal Windows password-based authentication. Securing local Windows accounts with a YubiKey makes it nearly impossible for an attacker to access the account, even if they know the password.<\/p>\n

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