[CALUG] Yubico keys

[Chuck Frain]

The Yubikey with RFID is, quite simply, the Yubikey with an RFID tag.
The RFID portion works the same as other implementations such as how the
credit cards with built in RFID work with the readers at the stores
today. Just wave it by the reader and the information is transfered. 

In order to use the RFID part of the Yubikey at home, you must have a
RFID reader available. Most people today do not have them sitting
around, but they are not too far off to be practical. So if you are not
going to use the RFID portion of the key, you don't need anything more
than a USB port on your computer to use the key. 

The form factor of the Yubikey is more that of a USB thumbdrive with a
button on it and about half the thickness of the typical drive.

As to why so many people are getting them? That varies. Many people have
been thinking about it and the $25 price point for the regular key, and
$35 for the RFID key, are too high. Buying in bulk brings it down to a
reasonable price for something that is a nice to have item. Again, due
to the bulk pricing, it puts the RFID version in a sweet spot for those
who want to play with and research the technology. 

Check out their website http://www.yubico.com/yubikey to see if the
base key is something that would interest you. If not, pass on it as the
RFID portion is, at this point, mostly interesting to those doing 
research with or are early adopters of the technology. 

Me, I want to play with the Yubikey and the RFID is a bit of
future-proofing. 


On Tue, 02 Aug 2011, Walt Smith wrote:

> 
> general Q:
> 
> I'm sure there's one or two others like me who
> don't know what this RFID key is or how easy it is to 
> use.
> 
> I know that the chip has a small circuit which would
> receive a small RF burst, and then send out data on RF.
> Or is this a swipe situation?
> 
> Is the form like a credit card ( silicon chip glued on )?
> And how much other equipment would you need to
> use it ?   Why do so many people have an interest ?

-- 
Chuck Frain 
GPG Key: B2420431
http://www.chuckfrain.net