Setup of the Titan key is a relatively simple process. (After the key was released in the US last year, Google had to do a partial recall of devices after finding a flaw in its Bluetooth setup).

Other than the Google Plus API data leak, effecting 500,000 people during March 2018, there haven't been any high-profile success attacks on the company in recent years. “We have had no reported or confirmed account takeovers since implementing security keys at Google,” a spokesperson told TechCrunch.ĭespite the company's data-heavy business model – learn how to delete your Google history – it has a decent record with protecting user information. When Google launched the Titan key last year it boldly claimed success. Is it effective in stopping accounts being compromised? Seemingly so. Why opt for this over SMS two-factor? Well, not only does the USB option remove the need to get that SMS each and every time you login, it also will work when you don't have network signal, plus it can work across multiple websites. The Titan security key – along with other hardware approaches – moves the authentication method into the physical world.

Typically, two-factor uses a SMS code sent to a mobile phone or an app that generates a separate login codes. Read more: The best password managers to keep your data safe in 2021 The principle of two-factor authentication adds an extra step to the login process, where a separate proof of identity is needed in addition to a password. They act as a physical authentication tokens that prove you are who you say when you're trying to login. Both pieces of kit serve the same purpose. Costing £50, the Titan hardware set comes with two devices: a key-shaped USB stick and a Bluetooth key fob.

Google titan key