Google on Monday announced that it’s discontinuing the Bluetooth version of the Titan Security Key and it will only offer devices that have near-field communication (NFC) functionality.
The company will only offer two types of Titan security keys: a USB-A version and a USB-C version, both with NFC capabilities. These devices will enable users to authenticate either by plugging in the device to the corresponding USB port, or by simply tapping the security key on the back of their Android or iOS device to sign in using NFC.
Google has argued that NFC functionality is currently supported by many smartphones, which is why it has decided to focus on NFC and discontinue the Bluetooth version of the Titan Security Key.
However, the tech giant noted that Bluetooth keys will continue to work and warranties for these devices will be honored.
The USB-A key includes a USB-A to USB-C adapter and is available for $30. The USB-C version has a retail price of $35. Owners of iPads that have a lightning connector can also acquire an adapter for their USB-A key.
Google advertises security keys, which serve as a second authentication factor when logging in to an account, as the best way to keep accounts safe. However, over the past years, researchers have demonstrated various attacks against Google’s Titan Security Key.
In 2019, Microsoft alerted Google of a potentially serious issue that allowed Bluetooth attacks, and earlier this year researchers showed how Titan and security keys from other vendors could be cloned.
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