Gemini unveiled hardware security key functionality for the mobile app, offering customers compatibility with devices like the YubiKey for added security.
"Thanks to WebAuthn compatibility in the Gemini app, Gemini iOS and Android users can now use USB and near-field communication, or hardware security keys to securely log into the mobile app," the company said in a statement on Tuesday.
The addition strengthens two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, offers additional security beyond a simple password login to a website. If enabled, 2FA requires a code from a mobile device to log in to the website after a user enters their password. The code — a one-time string of numbers — comes either from a message or a third-party app, depending on the user.
There are other forms of 2FA that require a physical device to be plugged in for logins, such as Yubico's YubiKey. Hardware keys serve as an approach to protecting against hacking or SIM swapping.
Gemini and Yubico collaborate
The announcement also mentions that Gemini and Yubico have partnered. “Yubikeys provides a secure, cross-platform solution that you can use to access your Gemini account through the mobile app, as well as any other websites that support WebAuthn,” the statement said.
Gemini's main platform revealed compatibility in May 2019.
Security is key in the crypto space – an industry plagued by hacking attacks and data breaches.
