AARP Hearing Center
![Do you need a computer security passkey? hand holding a computer passkey with animated zeros and ones on it the laptop is in the background](https://cdn.aarp.net/content/dam/aarpe/en/home/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/computer-security-key/_jcr_content/root/container_main/container_body_main/container_body1/container_body_cf/container_image/articlecontentfragment/cfimage.coreimg.50.932.gif/content/dam/aarp/money/scams_fraud/2024/03/1140-passkey-paul-spella.gif)
Although a determined criminal will always find a way inside a home — by breaking a window, say — locked doors have long been the first line of defense against burglaries. Without a key, gaining entry is much more difficult, conspicuous and time-consuming.
The same kind of deterrence that keeps your physical possessions safe can help you safeguard your digital valuables.
![member card Image Alt Attribute](https://cdn.aarp.net/content/dam/experience-fragments/uxdia-folder-structure/en/features/membership/inline-membership-promo/default/master5/_jcr_content/root/responsivegrid/container_copy/container/articleimage.coreimg.75.1140.png/content/dam/uxdia/membership-card-d-and-t.png)
LIMITED TIME OFFER: Labor Day Sale!
Join AARP for just $9 per year with a 5-year membership and get a FREE Gift!
That’s the principle behind hardware security keys. Designed to protect you from cybercriminals, they are the equivalent of a physical house key for your electronic identity. Knowing what they are and how to use them can help you decide if security keys are right for you.
What is a hardware security key?
In the simplest terms, a hardware security key is a small device that you connect to your computer or mobile device to securely access online accounts.
It’s “basically a little dongle that you can connect to your USB port — it comes in USB-A or USB-C format — or that you can tap on your device, if your security key and your device support NFC, which is near-field communication,” explains Santiago Del Portillo, global sales engineer at Kensington, which sells security keys under the brand name VeriMark.
Security keys are used as a second factor in multifactor authentication (MFA). “What hackers have discovered over the last two decades is that people are pretty lazy and tend to use the same passwords everywhere,” says Steve Won, chief product officer at password management software company 1Password. “The concept of multifactor authentication is: Even if you use the same password, let’s have a safeguard — something the attacker’s not going to have.”
More From AARP
What I Did When Hackers Attacked Me
How Rob Tannenbaum survived an onslaught on his accounts by cyberthievesProtect Yourself From Web Hackers and Eavesdroppers
The internet may be looking at, listening to you online
Strategies for Staying Safe and Secure Online
Tips and advice excerpted from AARP's new book 'My Online Privacy for Seniors'
Recommended for You