Google, after claiming that none of its employees have been victimized by a phishing attack since early 2017 after they started using physical security keys, will soon start selling its own version of the cybersecurity device.
Phishing attacks attempt to trick users into giving up sensitive information such as log-in credentials. The upcoming Titan Security Key will look to provide users with a nearly unbreakable wall against such attacks, similar to the protection that Google employees have received.
Physical Security Keys Protect Google Employees From Phishing
No Google employee has fallen prey to phishing attacks since early 2017, when the company started to require them to use physical security keys. The devices, which may be purchased for as cheap as $20, offer an alternative approach to two-factor authentication.
Two-factor authentication protects users from phishing attacks by requiring two sets of information to log in to an account. While a hacker may be able to steal a user's password, the second code, usually sent to the user's smartphone, is harder to acquire. It is possible to intercept the codes sent through SMS, though, so physical security keys are the more secure version. The devices need to be plugged in to the computer where users are logging in to their account.
According to Google, none of its more than 85,000 workers have seen their information compromised by a phishing attack in more than a year. The company apparently loves physical security keys so much that it will soon start selling its own.
Google Titan Security Key Coming Soon
The Titan Security Key, Google's version of the physical security key, will be available in two models, namely as a USB stick and as a Bluetooth device. Google will start selling the device through its online store over the next few months, with price tags of $50 for a bundle featuring both USB and Bluetooth models or about $20 to $25 each.
"We're very sure of the quality of the security," said Google product manager for identity and security Christiaan Brand." We're very sure of how we store secrets and how hard it would be for an attacker to come in and blow the security up."
The Google Titan Security Key will be an alternative to Yubico's products, which Google employees have been using. However, in a blog post, Yubico CEO Stina Ehrensvard criticized Google's decision to launch a Bluetooth model for the Titan Security Key.
Ehrensvard said that Yubico will welcome all competitors in the security key industry but noted that it has decided not to launch a Bluetooth product because it does not meet the company's security standards.
