Google Drops Bluetooth Titan Security Keys In Favor of NFC Versions (bleepingcomputer.com) 19
Google is discontinuing the Bluetooth Titan Security Key to focus on security keys with Near Field Communication (NFC) functionality. As part of this move, Google has also announced a new Titan Security Key with USB-C and NFC to go along with the previously available USB-A + NFC security key. Bleeping Computer reports: Google's Titan Security Keys were introduced in 2018 and are designed to help users prevent Google account takeover attempts using credentials stolen in data breaches or following phishing attacks. They work with the most popular devices, browsers, and an increasing number of apps that come with FIDO standard support.
"Since NFC functionality is now supported by a wide range of Android phones and iPhones, we are discontinuing the Bluetooth Titan Security Key and focusing on the easier and more widely available NFC capability," said Christiaan Brand, Google Cloud Product Manager. "However, for existing users with our Bluetooth Titan Security Keys, these will continue to work with Bluetooth and will continue to work as an NFC key on most modern mobile devices." The company will also continue to service existing Bluetooth Titan Security Keys until they are out of warranty.
"Since NFC functionality is now supported by a wide range of Android phones and iPhones, we are discontinuing the Bluetooth Titan Security Key and focusing on the easier and more widely available NFC capability," said Christiaan Brand, Google Cloud Product Manager. "However, for existing users with our Bluetooth Titan Security Keys, these will continue to work with Bluetooth and will continue to work as an NFC key on most modern mobile devices." The company will also continue to service existing Bluetooth Titan Security Keys until they are out of warranty.
Optional features. (Score:2)
"Since NFC functionality is now supported by a wide range of Android phones and iPhones, we are discontinuing the Bluetooth Titan Security Key and focusing on the easier and more widely available NFC capability," said Christiaan Brand, Google Cloud Product Manager.
Those using a MVNO phone might be SOL though.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Phones they offer is where the network operator matters. BYOP is a different matter entirely.
Re: (Score:2)
I challenge Google to name a phone which has NFC but not Bluetooth.
Re:Optional features. (Score:5, Funny)
The Pixel 6, perhaps.
Google can save a few cents by not integrating a legacy oldfangled Bluetooth controller in their custom Whitechapel SoC.
Oh wait, deprecating a commonly-used standard requires "courage" - that's more an Apple thing!
Re: (Score:3)
If Google stopped having Bluetooth in their SoC, it would make for some very negative press, just because so many users use BT on a daily basis, be it the car audio head, speakers, headsets, and so on.
I'm wondering if it is because NFC requires far closer a proximity to a reader than BT, which helps foil a number of attacks. Same reason why GPay/Samsung Pay/Apple Pay readers use NFC.
Where is the PC support (Score:2)
Good authoritative Information on which NFC readers work well with these for Windows users hasn't been too easy to come by in my experience. I was hoping for e.g. a $20 USB dongle I could plug in sold by or linked to by Google on a page with a high search rank. Doesn't seem to be much on it. Some of the NFC readers that used to be popular (well, popular is relative) on Amazon seem to be gone/OOS too.
It would be nice if there was more robust support for NFC on desktop. Yes, I know you can find the informatio
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Yes, I have one. What I would like is to do the same thing I do on my phone with NFC, on a desktop. I.e. wave the key over a reader to authenticate. Where are these low-cost/well-supported readers for PC?
I can see a future (Score:4, Interesting)
Where this form of 2FA will not be optional anymore, and Google will demand that you get a Titan key to access Google services. And since Google is becoming more and more unavoidable to function online nowadays, this will become, in essence, your compulsory corporate-issued ID card.
I don't like where this is going. At all...
Re: (Score:2)
Has any of you actually TRIED leaving? It's one thing to pontificate about what things are suppose to be like. It's another to test the supposition (like EVERYTHING is made in China).
Re: (Score:2)
Why would that be an issue? Google demands that you have a password already.
Titan security keys use free and open standards, so you can actually use a key from the vendor of your choice. Also Pixel phones have the functionality built in and can be used as 2FA via Bluetooth, and I imagine other phones could support the same thing.
Normalising 2FA is a very good thing.
Re: (Score:2)
It is a HELL OF A LOT BETTER than having to give people my phone number. SMS is compromised as 2FA authentication, anyway.
Widely available? (Score:4, Insightful)
Kiddo, Phones had Bluetooth support back when phones still had physical keyboards. To say nothing of PCs.
Tell us why you really want to adopt NFC, but don't just pretend the real world doesn't exist. Bluetooth is far more common than NFC.
Re: (Score:2)
Tell us why you really want to adopt NFC
Oh, that's very easy: payment.
Re: (Score:2)
It's probably down to cost. The Bluetooth hardware costs money, increases the size of the key, makes the case more expensive, requires a battery and battery charger...
For PCs you will have to plug the thing in, which is annoying. I wish NFC was a thing in laptops and on desktop PCs. A few laptops do have NFC but it doesn't seem to be compatible with anything useful.
Re: (Score:2)
I'm sure there are legit reasons, I just wish they would list them rather than lie about a bunch of fake reasons.
Bluetooth (Score:1)
Was kind of hoping they'd partner with Tile or some other location service so I could put a Titan key on my keyring and figure out where I left it when I misplace it once every year or three.