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Are NFC hardware tokens (Yubikey, NitroKey) less secure than USB-only ones? If so, how to mitigate? (thebrainbin.org)

submitted 1 day ago by modem_down@thebrainbin.org to c/cybersecurity@sh.itjust.works

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Yubikey and NitroKey offer NFC and non-NFC versions of their flagship hardware security tokens (HSTs).

NFC is convenient, but can under some circumstances send e.g. challenge-response exchanges in clear text.

Smartcards using RFID, a similar though not identical protocol, can be queried from ~100cm away.

Are there other ways are NFC HSTs are known to be more risky than their non-NFC counterparts?
Should users store NFC HSTs in RFID-blocking pouches, like those used for wireless car keys or contactless bank cards?

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[–] modem_down@thebrainbin.org 3 points 1 day ago

their setup required a couple large antennas that the victim would need to stand in between. Not impossible, but you'd notice with each side being half a meter away.

So yes, it's a technical risk, but not one that I'd bother putting much effort into avoiding. And the being able to use the key via NFC is probably worth the risk.

This was my conclusion, too, but I didn't want to prejudice the discussion. Thanks for corroborating.

IMO, using a Faraday pouch isn't "much effort", and is therefore worth doing if the HST is being carried in unfamiliar/non-secure locations.