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Yubico Unveils Security Key With Built-In Fingerprint Reader

There's no word yet on when Yubico will launch the product, and at what price. But the company said fingerprint recognition has been a much-requested feature.

 & Michael Kan Principal Reporter

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Yubico is showing off an upgraded security key that requires your fingerprint to activate the device.

The YubiKey Bio marks the first time the company will offer a security key with built-in fingerprint authentication. Yubico has been previewing the device at Microsoft's Ignite conference as a way for enterprise customers to unlock access to their Azure Active Directory accounts.

Although security keys are pricey ($20 to $50), they offer the best protection to stop hackers from hijacking your online accounts. Anyone logging in will need to supply both the password and insert the hardware-based security key into the computer's USB port to gain access.

The technology is particularly resistant against cybercriminals based hundreds of miles away, who have no way to physically steal a key. But what happens if you lose the key, or it gets stolen by a mischievous co-worker or even a spy?

Well, then you might be in trouble. It's why users of security keys typically have several backups on hand. This allows them to go into their online accounts, and invalidate the lost or stolen key—hopefully before the bad actor breaks in.

The upcoming YubiKey Bio guards against such an event. By requiring the owner's fingerprint, the upgraded security key can still stymie any thieves who try to use the device to break into your online accounts. The same device also promises to offer a completely password-less login solution as well. All you'll need to do is slot in the key to your computer and sign in with your fingerprint.

There's no word yet on when Yubico will launch the product and at what price. But the company said fingerprint recognition has been a much-requested feature.

The key itself requires no batteries or associated software. To register your fingerprint, you can use the biometric enrollment function on Windows 10 and Azure Active Directory.

The device also uses the FIDO 2.0 and WebAuthn standards, which creates a cryptographic key based on your fingerprint's image. Like the fingerprint scans on your smartphone, the biometrics are designed to never leave the device.

About Our Expert

Michael Kan

Michael Kan

Principal Reporter

My Experience

I've been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I'm currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country's technology sector.

Since 2020, I've covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I've combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink's cellular service.

I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.

I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I'm now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I'm always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.

The Best Tech I've Had:

  • My first video game console: a Nintendo Famicom
  • I loved my Sega Saturn despite PlayStation's popularity.
  • The iPod Video I received as a gift in college
  • Xbox 360 FTW
  • The Galaxy Nexus was the first smartphone I was proud to own.
  • The PC desktop I built in 2013, which still works to this day.

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