If you are trying to take online security seriously these days, there is no better way to protect your accounts than by turning to physical security keys. A few months ago, Twitter took action and added support for two-factor authentication keys on mobile devices, and now it’s Facebook’s turn to do the same. As of today, the company allows users to register hardware security keys on Android and iOS.
This is a feature that Facebook has been supporting on the PC since 2017, so it is no longer necessary to expand to phones for a long time. Go to the to enter your key in the app Security and login section within the settings and select Security key under Two-factor authentication. Keys can unlock your account wirelessly via Bluetooth or by physically connecting to your phone for a wired connection (there is currently no support for connecting to NFC).
It looks like the rollout of the feature is still going on, as I could not start registering a security key on Facebook’s Android app without an error appearing on the screen.
In the announcement, Facebook recommends that all users switch to physical keys for two-factor authentication on their accounts, regardless of which device you use and whether or not your account runs the risk of being hacked. If you do not have a hardware key, the app still supports other 2FA methods such as authentication programs, SMS authentication and recovery codes, although none of them are as secure as a real key.
