The Nitrokey vs yubikey review will help you find a compatible security key for your computer. Yubikey works with 2fA making it hard to break into your device with just a password.
In this day and age the most important tool for a writer is security. it has become so easy for people to hack into your devices and get all the information they can from you. the good thing is, online security is on the increase lately. I have been looking for a great way to ensure my content on my computer is kept safe and private from anyone. This yubikey and Nitrokey review will help you solve your security issues.
Differences between the Yubikey and Nitrokey – How do they compare?
| Model | Yubikey 5 nfc | Nitrokey |
| FIDO 2 support | 2FA, USB-A | U2F |
| Wireless support | No | Yes |
| Compatibility | Chrome and any other FIDO compliant site | Chrome |
| Check the price | Check the price |
Yubikey and Nitrokey – what is the difference
Credibility
Both the yubikey and Nitrokey have the credibility everyone is looking for when it comes to security key production. Yubikey is created by the well known cyber security company known as Yubiko. The Fido u2f is made by the popular company Thetis. They are both known to produce high quality security keys with all the right factors. They are experts in the field and will provide you with exceptionally good products.
Wireless /Usb support
Unfortunately, the yubikey does not offer a wireless support for any device. You have to plug in this small USB device into your device for any kind of access. You cannot, at any point get access to some of your devices or features if you do not have the key
Multiprotocol support
Yubikey 5 has incorporated the improved Fast Identity Online-FIDO 2 standards and the Universal 2nd Factor-U2F standards. These two qualities mean that the new Yubikey 5 security device has an upper hand against crimes such as phishing. Both keys rely on U2F technology, where you use the key to authenticate you alone, and increase your security since no one else can enter your account. However, the Yubikey also includes USB for the desktop experience and NFC for the mobile users, making it easy for you to use it regardless of the device you prefer, which the Nitrokey does not have.
Yubikey vs nitrokey reviews, pros and Cons
Yubikey original
This Yubikey may be the first in a series of improved Yubikey versions but carries enough weight to provide you more than enough security. This device is sold at a very friendly price and worth it for all your computer’s security and authentication needs.
The Yubikey authentication key despite being labelled ‘second generation’ managed to surpass all my expectations. Here you not only get Fast Identity Online-FIDO2 support but you also enjoy Universal 2nd Factor-U2F support. U2F simply means that you do not need software to access online services as the key authorizes you instantly. The fact that it has been manufactured in America means that it is trustworthy and accessible in all states or countries.
If you want a simple device that doesn’t require you to download and install a ton of software for it to function, then this is the simplest option for you. Yubikey being manufactured in the US means that it is available in most if not all countries. In terms of availability, Yubikey is your best bet.
Here’s what’s good and what’s not so good about the Yubikey device;
Pros
- Made in USA
- Pocket-friendly price
- Compatible to USB A ports only
Con
- It has no wireless support
Nitrokey
Nitrokey is an open source usb smart card that has multiple uses including one time passwords, email encryption, file encryption and computer authentication. The creators decided to create it when they needed a solution to securing their encryption keys on insecure computer systems.
The GPA Assistant lets you edit the user data on the card and easily/quickly generate encryption keys for the smart card. The other option is to use the terminal which is not that much harder to learn. Nitrokey worked great. You can use GPA with it but I found using the command line was preferable when setting up the Nitrokey.
If you were able to get the Nitrokey working with GPG and all that, then using it for email encryption is only takes a few more steps. Assuming you are going to use Thunderbird, you just need to install the Enigma mail extension.Once you install the plugin you can encrypt and decrypt mail in the same way that you would encrypt/decrypt anything with your Nitrokey. Email encryption with Nitrokey is one of the easier functions of the Nitrokey to set up.
- Easy to set up the functions and encryption
- Great levels of security
Cons
- You cannot work with it on multiple PCs
The final verdict
The yubikey is very convenient; it is compatible with mac os x, linux operating sytsme, Microsoft window, and other major browsers. If you need to use the near factor communication of yubikey 4, it is no issues; this security key can use both the nfc and usb to connect to your device.
FAQS
Can you use two interchangeably?
Each nitrokey comes with a unqiue identity, this means that you cannot use them interchangeably. some accounts or services may allow you to use different yubikeys. For instance, lastpass may allow you to register one account with multiple keys simultaneously.
Can you use the nitrokey to unlock gmail account on your android?
The nitrokey is used to sign into the Google accounts using NFC. You can do this on any android device. You can access your chrome simply by tapping your key on your phone or laptop.
What will happen if you lose your nitrokey or yubikey?
Not too bad if you are using last pass you can turn it off temporary to get in then turn it off with an email confirmation. They allow more than one device so I purchased a second one so I would not have to turn it off I think all services provide a way to report losing the device
Is the yubikey 5 compatible with iphone x?
The security key will work with your IOS device as long as it has all the drivers that will offer support and connection.
What’s the main difference between yubikey neo and yubikey 4
One major difference between the two keys is that the yubikey neo offers you NFC and USB while the yubikey 4 does not offer any NFC wireless connectivity. The yubikey 4 has a standard USB- c while the neo does not have a standard connector.