Yubico Launches 'YubiKey 5C NFC' With USB-C and NFC Support

Yubico, a company that sells physical security keys for two-factor authentication, today announced the launch of the new YubiKey 5C NFC, pairing USB-C and NFC support in a single device.

yubikey1
According to Yubico, the YubiKey 5C NFC is the first multi-protocol security key that supports smart cards. With the NFC integration, the YubiKey 5C NFC features tap-and-go authentication that works with all major browsers and operating systems, plus it continues to offer a physical USB-C connector.

Like other devices in the YubiKey lineup, the YubiKey 5C NFC is a hardware-based two-factor authentication dongle that is designed to work with hundreds of services to make logins more secure. It's more convenient than software-based two-factor authentication because you don't need a security code. Just connect it to a USB-C device or tap it on an NFC-compatible iPhone to authenticate.

yubikey2

"The way that people work and go online is vastly different today than it was a few years ago, and especially within the last several months," said Guido Appenzeller, Chief Product Officer, Yubico. "Users are no longer tied to just one device or service, nor do they want to be. That's why the YubiKey 5C NFC is one of our most sought-after security keys -- it's compatible with a majority of modern-day computers and mobile phones and works well across a range of legacy and modern applications. At the end of the day, our customers crave security that 'just works' no matter what."

YubiKey 5C NFC is compatible with common password management apps like 1Password and LastPass, and it also works on the web. It supports multiple authentication protocols such as FIDO2 and WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, PIV (smart card), OATH-HOTP and OATH-TOTP (hash-based and time-based one-time passwords), OpenPGP, YubiOTP, and challenge-response, so a single key can work with multiple services and applications.

The YubiKey 5C NFC can be purchased for $55 from the Yubico website.

Tag: YubiKey

Top Rated Comments

jogu Avatar
46 months ago

We used Yubikeys in our org up through last year. They’re $50+ per piece. Our security team doesn’t allow us to deprovision/reprovision them for a 2nd use once they’ve been issued to the first departing employee because they could then contain malware and be compromised- even after following Yubi’s procedures to scrub them.

Needless to say, we don’t use them anymore because if you can’t safely repurpose an IT asset during its service life, it’s a showstopper.
If whatever you're trying to protect isn't worth 50 USD per employee why bother with the yubikeys in the first place? In most organisations I've worked getting a new employee hired, onboarded and trained up is costed in thousands of dollars at a minimum, 50 USD is insignificant compared to that cost, and items under 75 USD aren't tracked on our asset register.

Did you find something that's better/cheaper?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bierdybard Avatar
46 months ago

We used Yubikeys in our org up through last year. They’re $50+ per piece. Our security team doesn’t allow us to deprovision/reprovision them for a 2nd use once they’ve been issued to the first departing employee because they could then contain malware and be compromised- even after following Yubi’s procedures to scrub them.

Needless to say, we don’t use them anymore because if you can’t safely repurpose an IT asset during its service life, it’s a showstopper.
Then I have to say as a fellow tinfoil-hat wearer that your security team is really not smart, or really doesn't understand the YubiKey.

It is not possible* for someone to alter the code on a YubiKey once it has been programmed and sealed at the factory.

To me this would be a whistleblower moment for higher-ups. They are throwing away both a massive capital investment, and quite literally (when used properly) the best tool they have against both phishing and lateral movement in their network, because they fail to adequately understand what they are working with and do a proper risk assessment.

Stories like this anger me so much. We need the best security we can possibly get, especially in an age where so many peoples' personal data is being collected and stored. But no, instead of asking the right questions, doing proper research, and doing a proper risk analysis, we're going to use something inferior.

(*as with anything else, yes, I'm sure it's possible somehow, but 1. not by persons of ordinary means and 2. not without physical destruction of the device or other evidence of tampering. Your security team is flushing value down the toilet over the smallest possible chance of compromise.)
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Gutwrench Avatar
46 months ago
I’ll stick with 1234.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PinkyMacGodess Avatar
46 months ago

I’ll stick with 1234.
I tell people that I use the last 6 digits of pi. With the people I used to hang around with, that usually got a few chuckles, and a puzzled look for whomever I was telling it to. So anyway...
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bierdybard Avatar
46 months ago

How will these work if Apple takes the port away?
YubiKey 5C NFC.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bookofxero Avatar
46 months ago
It is not a USB key. It is a secure enclave with a USB interface. Very different things.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

reset password request iphone

Warning: Apple Users Targeted in Phishing Attack Involving Rapid Password Reset Requests

Tuesday March 26, 2024 4:34 pm PDT by
Phishing attacks taking advantage of Apple's password reset feature have become increasingly common, according to a report from KrebsOnSecurity. Multiple Apple users have been targeted in an attack that bombards them with an endless stream of notifications or multi-factor authentication (MFA) messages in an attempt to cause panic so they'll respond favorably to social engineering. An...
iPhone Home Screen Gradient Blank Spaces 1

Sources: iOS 18 Lets Apps Be Placed Anywhere on Home Screen Grid

Sunday March 24, 2024 1:33 pm PDT by
iOS 18 will give iPhone users greater control over Home Screen app icon arrangement, according to sources familiar with the matter. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, to ensure there is some uniformity, our sources say that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18. For example, we expect that the update will introduce...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Purple

iOS 18: What to Expect From 'Biggest' Update in iPhone's History

Wednesday March 27, 2024 11:10 am PDT by
At least some Apple software engineers continue to believe that iOS 18 will be the "biggest" update in the iPhone's history, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. "The iOS 18 update is expected to be the most ambitious overhaul of the iPhone's software in its history, according to people working on the upgrade," wrote Gurman, in a r...
maxresdefault

Apple Announces WWDC 2024 Event for June 10 to 14

Tuesday March 26, 2024 10:02 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference is set to take place from Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14. As with WWDC events since 2020, WWDC 2024 will be an online event that is open to all developers at no cost. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. WWDC 2024 will include online sessions and labs so that developers can learn about new...
apple maps 3d feature

Apple Maps May Gain Custom Routes With iOS 18

Tuesday March 26, 2024 3:10 pm PDT by
Apple may be planning to add support for "custom routes" in Apple Maps in iOS 18, according to code reviewed by MacRumors. Apple Maps does not currently offer a way to input self-selected routes, with Maps users limited to Apple's pre-selected options, but that may change in iOS 18. Apple has pushed an iOS 18 file to its maps backend labeled "CustomRouteCreation." While not much is revealed...
iPad Pro 2024 Landscape Camera Feature

New iPad Pro Again Rumored to Feature Landscape Front-Facing Camera

Monday March 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
The next-generation iPad Pro will feature a landscape-oriented front-facing camera for the first time, according to the Apple leaker known as "Instant Digital." Instant Digital reiterated the design change earlier today on Weibo with a simple accompanying 2D image. The post reveals that the entire TrueDepth camera array will move to the right side of the device, while the microphone will...
sonoma desktop wwdc

Apple Releases macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 With Fix for USB Hub Bug

Monday March 25, 2024 10:10 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS Sonoma 14.4.1, a minor update for the macOS Sonoma operating system that launched last September. macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 comes three weeks after macOS Sonoma 14.4. The ‌‌‌‌macOS Sonoma‌‌ 14.4‌.1 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Settings. There's also a macOS 13.6.6 release for those who...