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Plus username is a third factor.
No it's not, your username is the identity you're attempting to authenticate.

Think of authentication like proving who you are to someone. Simply saying your are 'Your Name' does not prove anything.
 
As someone who loves tech and likes to learn as much as I can, I just can't help to think this security stuff is just way overblown for MOST home users.Maybe it my days of supporting old windows (while being a Mac user since 80s) I just don't keep important stuff on my main drive or not on removable drive (or now in say Apple's Cloud)

Maybe I am too old, but I am just tired of having to jump through so many hoops just to log into a website on a new platform (or reimaged system). Had to visit HR to have them reset my account because I changed my phone number and there is no other way for 2 factor on their websites - just to see schedule or view paycheck stubs.

There is a reason I still love my iPhone with a fingerprint reader! Now if Safari / OS could just actually keep my passwords correctly (had been great but lately many sites just claim my password is wrong despite no changes)
But my mom told me I was a very special snowflake 😂 the groups blasting out the majority of phishing attacks and other malware that are successful, this doesn't address any of that. People will jump on this then use debit cards in retail swipe or tap scanners not turn off settings on their devices that make them vulnerable.
 
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I find it very interesting that we are now back to "keys" of some sort for more secured security. Yet another physical object to track and lose -- LOL. Sigh.

Is it just me or does it feel like we're kinda going full circle? While these aren't the kinds of keys with notches (like for doors) these are hardware items. In terms of usage from the end-user experience, it doesn't feel that different than slotting in a regular key into a door lock.
 
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people are making mistakes by carrying them on their Keys chains and they are breaking. of course, they break if they are in your pockets, etc. common sense is needed. They are not indestructible for those that use them with no care.
 
This part of the update confused me. For some reason I thought I could utilize my apple watch for this (you can't), so I never opted in to it.
 
Security Key is something I use at work and useful if you have confidential info or things of that nature on your iphone
It can be annoying when you forget it . It serves a purpose but not for most people.
 
I find it very interesting that we are now back to "keys" of some sort for more secured security. Yet another physical object to track and lose -- LOL. Sigh.

Is it just me or does it feel like we're kinda going full circle? While these aren't the kinds of keys with notches (like for doors) these are hardware items. In terms of usage from the end-user experience, it doesn't feel that different than slotting in a regular key into a door lock.
Good point.

When you get used to using security keys, though, theres’s hardly any friction at all.

And worth noting that most security key-based 2FA implementations also include recovery codes.

Passkeys offer something conceptually similar to security keys, too, essentially using something you own to authenticate.

But sure. There’s always the potential to lose something. You just have to be a little more deliberate with keys.
 
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Security Key is something I use at work and useful if you have confidential info or things of that nature on your iphone
It can be annoying when you forget it . It serves a purpose but not for most people.
Not sure what this means. They aren’t used for securing access to your phone. And they do nothing for securing confidential information that may be stored on your phone, at least not with 1st party apps. Some 3rd party apps DO support hardware tokens.

With this latest update, Apple now lets you secure your Apple ID account with a hardware token. This isn’t a second factor for your device passcode.
 
Good point.

When you get used to using security keys, though, theres’s hardly any friction at all.

And worth noting that most security key-based 2FA implementations also include recovery codes.

Passkeys offer something conceptually similar to security keys, too, essentially using something you own to authenticate.

But sure. There’s always the potential to lose something. You just have to be a little more deliberate with keys.

I didn’t know most security keys come with recovery codes. Do you know if these codes can be used on the iPhone, iPad, or Mac in lieu of a missing key?
 
Long time Yubi Keys user, finally Apple. Better late than never.

Although all the iOS devices I have are on 16.3, I am kinda hesitating to upgrade my work station to Ventura so I can replace 2FA with Yubis and elevate the E2E encryption on wider range of services.
 
I didn’t know most security keys come with recovery codes. Do you know if these codes can be used on the iPhone, iPad, or Mac in lieu of a missing key?
The codes are generated by individual services when you enable 2FA and add a security key to the account.

Some sites give you a series of one-time use codes. Others give you only one. Typically you’d save this meta information in a password manager, maybe one distinct from your primary password manager or even simply printed and stored offline.

You can then use these codes on ANY device should you lose a key. This has the effect of disabling 2FA typically.

But the preferred method is to add multiple keys. If one dies, breaks, or is lost, you buy a replacement. Then you grab your backup key, login and then add your NEW replacement key. You do this for every account. A password manager with a good system of tracking meta information makes this all much simpler.
 
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Requiring 2x keys will put a lot of people off, I think. I spent almost £100 on the 2 keys. Other accounts allow you to set them up with just 1. I think it's good that Apple requires 2 keys to set it up. If you don't want to spend £100 on security then might as well not bother using a key at all.
You could have saved money if you had bought the blue keys instead of the black ones.
2 times cheaper and are compatible with Fido and Fido2 too.
I bought for my iCloud account and work perfectly.
Work with google, facebook and twitter too.
 
Requiring two keys is a smart move in my opinion. If they didn't do that, the amount of requests for support from people who misplaced their one and only key would go through the roof.
When dealing with billions of users, 98% of whom aren't tech-savy, you must enforce good security practices one way or the other. If you merely recommend using two keys, rather than enforce it, then most of the users will ignore that because they'll think they know better and s.hit only ever happens to other people.
 
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