Google simplifies its line of Titan security keys

Google has announced the withdrawal of the Bluetooth version of its Titan security key in order to streamline its line of security products. The search giant will now only offer two editions; one with USB-A and USB-C, both of which will pack NFC to allow it to be used by most mobile devices. This should reduce any confusion potential buyers would have with the current lineup, where some models were Near Field compliant, and others were not. Google’s brand Christiaan said the company would focus on “easier and more widely available NFC capability,” although support and guarantees for existing Bluetooth dongles would be “honored on their terms”. The new keys are now available on the Google Store.

Titan Keys were originally released in 2018 as Google’s version of the type of hardware security key made by Yubikey and others. They are designed to be much more secure than standard two-factor authentication methods, and when implemented, Google said their use has completely eliminated internal phishing attacks. As the 2020 US election approaches, Google has even pledged to hand over the Titan Keys to political groups to help them secure their campaign data.