The FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) Alliance (https://fidoalliance.org/), a global industry consortium delivering open standards for simpler, stronger authentication, is announcing that Google is the latest member organization to deploy support for FIDO Alliance authentication standards.

Also, Google Chrome became the first web browser to implement support for FIDO Alliance authentication standards, opening the door for any website to deploy simpler, stronger FIDO U2F authentication to users of the world?s most popular web browser.

Google announced that they are strengthening their 2-Step Verification by offering support for Security Key, a FIDO Ready? U2F compliant physical USB second factor device that offers a simpler, stronger alternative to today?s six digit one-time passcodes (OTP).

Google?s new Security Key solution offers even more protection for their most security-sensitive users.

Rather than typing a code, the user just inserts a Security Key into their computer?s USB port and taps it when prompted in the Google Chrome browser.

When signing into a Google Account this way, users can be assured that their second factor cannot be phished, because Security Key doesn?t provide its cryptographic signature when a fake site is attempting to impersonate a Google sign-in page in Chrome.

Chrome incorporates the open FIDO Universal 2nd Factor (U2F) protocol, so other websites with account login systems can now build support for FIDO U2F into their web applications and instantly enable this experience for their users who run Chrome.