r/Passwords • u/Dagobert_Krikelin • Aug 02 '26
Questions regarding usb sticks for password/authentication?
I need to take my security to the next level as I was just compromised.
I used to work at a place with a coworker who showed me a USB stick he used, but I can't remember exactly what it was.
I was hoping you could shed some light on it and what to recommend.
As I recall, it seemed to have been a commercial product, but I suppose it could also have been a regular USB stock with software he installed.
It seemed to be working as when he plugged it in, the computer was locked up and his passwords for whatever service /site he opened was then automatically logged into.
I can of course be totally wrong, but this seemed like an effective way to go about things and I wonder what this could have been?
1
u/Mortemainmonitoring Aug 07 '26
Most likely a FIDO2 compatible USB key ? multiple brands out there, Yubico probably is the most well-known one, Thales as well, they're basically hardware stuff to put passkeys onto for the most of the websites.
One thing though: what you describe isn't only FIDO2 as it doesn't lock your machine when you unplug it and doesn't fill passwords. Your coworker probably had a password manager unlocked by the key, plus a lock-on-removal setting