Tired of using multiple passwords for your online account?

Wish there was a better way without having to keep multiple Post-It notes with your log-in information without fearing that you might lose them? Considering that users tend to reuse 51% of the passwords created then it only makes sense that we all try to avoid the data breaches that occur.

Well, you can now use the HID Crescendo FIDO Key and with a tab of a finger, it will log you right in with the use of a PIN number. Talk about embracing MFA technology in a small way!

With the power of the FIDO standard, users have the ability to authenticate themselves with no need for additional software to be installed as long as the application they use it with applications that support multi-factor authentication (MFA) methods.

**You can also use the HID Crescendo FIDO Key with PKI, FIDO or OATH standards.**

All you need is a USB-A port which is extremely common on Windows-based PCs to connect the HID Crescendo FIDO key with. If you have a macOS X or Linux-based PC then you are still in luck; however, you may need an adapter from USB-A to USB-C especially for mac-based computers. You can find these on Amazon or at Best Buy. Major browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari) are also supported for those web applications that you are using such as Facebook and Google.

FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) is a security standards alliance (est. 2013) of major consumer electronics and financial companies with the mission of securing personally identifiable information (PII) using pass wordless methods such as fingerprints, PIN numbers and even NFC (Near-field Communication). These are all types of multi-factor authentication methods.

You might be asking who is even part of the FIDO Alliance? Who are these major brands? You probably have heard of some of these brands before because many, if not all are part of the Fortune 500 and are everywhere in our daily lives.

Companies such as Samsung, Microsoft and Bank of America have jumped onboard the FIDO bandwagon to enhance the protection of customers’ data while making it easier for customers to login to their accounts. So, with their support, you will definitely start seeing FIDO being mentioned more and more in your daily life.

The FIDO standard is based on PKI or Public Key Infrastructure cryptography which means that it is resistant to phishing and other common attacks targeted with traditional password schemes. Hackers have a multitude of tools that they use to test your password combination which means that “ABC1234” is not going to cut it when trying to protect your bank account information.

Out of curiosity, you may be wondering what kinds of tools do hackers use to steal your banking information. You will be surprised when you find out the powerful tools at their disposal. By understanding some of their methods, you can better defend yourself against their trickery.

So if passwords don’t cut it anymore when logging into your account then what will?

You may not have thought about anything besides passwords as they have become ingrained into our interactions with the web, but there are some nifty methods out there. These MFA login methods come right out of Star Trek!

Have you ever thought about logging into your Facebook account using facial recognition, fingerprints or voice activation? Well, biometrics such as the color of your iris or the ridges of your fingerprints offers a stronger way of account login. It certainly would take more time for a hacker to steal a fingerprint than crack a password because they would have to physically lift it off a surface that you had touched. Many of these hackers come from all over the world, so they would not have direct access to the tables that you touch or the phone that you hold.

As SecuGen, a reputable and well-known fingerprint reader manufacturer, sells many fingerprint readers that conform to standards such as FIPS-201 and ISO 19794-4 which ensures that fingerprint images are read accurately and stored with the utmost care. Specifically with FIPS 201, this standard was established by the federal government for authentication of their employees, so you know that these devices are going to be much harder to crack.

So, the goal of FIDO is for it to be both secure and easily enterable. Remember that time when you were trying to type in your password and thought you had it right, only to find out that you were missing one character. No longer will that frustration be a problem with the FIDO standard. Two standards have been published since then and have been built into operating systems such as Windows 10, Android and iOS meaning that customers will have had the opportunity to experience this standard.

For more information on the FIDO Alliance, take a look at What is FIDO?

HID Global has been the leader in cybersecurity products such as smart cards, security tokens, biometrics and physical access products with over 2 billion trackable items in their sights. With a reach of over 100 countries and companies within the Fortune 500 relying on their solutions, you can trust that HID has you covered when it comes to your personal data. HID serves companies of all different shapes and sizes from financial institutions to research focused entities, so they have the experience to adapt to your specific use case with ease. Although, a cheaper price saves you money in the short term, it is the long term challenges that are most important to businesses. They are always trying to use their crystal ball to have keen foresight. With that in mind, it is smart to invest in a higher quality, more established product today to avoid the issues with a half-rate product that falls apart tomorrow! So, take the safer choice and go with HID!

Tx Systems is your choice in smart cards, biometric readers, NFC tags and much more security solutions for your personal and business needs. Having been in the field since 2001, we know a thing or two about securing your data and personally identifiable information. Don’t believe us , we dare you to look at our wide selection and be amazed at what is there to offer. We have top notch security keys in addition to the HID Crescendo Key from companies such as Hypersecu ( Hypersecu Hyper Pro Mini ) and Identiv ( Identiv uTrust FIDO2/PIV USB 2.0 Security Key ) that will progress you past your password drudgery. Embrace MFA and use MFA today!

Here is a non-exhaustive list of the the type of applications that you can use with the Crescendo Key and other types of MFA technology:

All you need to do is to plug it into your laptop via a USB 2.0 port or through NFC (*Some models may have that already, or you may need an NFC reader like the Identiv uTrust 3700 ), and it will be recognized as a removable device similar to a flash drive. The HID Crescendo FIDO Key will be noticeable as a device as it should be named similar to this within the notification prompt or This PC underneath Devices and Drives. For example, if you are on Windows 10, you would receive a notification that the device has been found on the taskbar near the time and date section. Depending on what you want to use it for whether VPN login, online account login or Windows login, they each will require their own unique setup; however, these use cases are all supported.

For example, Google has their own settings to set up a two-factor authentication scheme (also known as MFA or multi-factor authentication) that would require the use of a security key. To turn on 2-step verification on Google, take a look at Turn on 2-Step Verification from Google or take a look at the video below which highlights how to do this on the Google app on your phone.

If you are looking to login to Windows with your security key for MFA for Windows login, then here is a great simple tutorial that will walk you through step-by-step. It may not be directly connected to the Crescendo Key; however, the same principles tend to apply with setting up a security key.

If videos aren’t your thing then take a look at an even more in-depth look from Microsoft as they tells you how to set this up with their guide: Set up a security key as your verification method. A fair warning that this may be full of jargon!

Dreading the hassles of your workload in your office and thinking that one wrong password will make you snap? Then purchase the HID Crescendo FIDO Key ! With the USB drive being less than an inch on all sides and having a black casing, it will definitely blend in on your desk. Heck, you won’t even notice that it is there! With FIDO standards support, you can use this on major web application platforms such as Google and DropBox along with Windows 10 SSO to login to your accounts for an MFA method that is easy to carry and easy to use.

So, are you ready to make your life easier with the HID Crescendo Key then take the next step and start eliminating passwords today!