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In September 2017, identity-verification company ID.me announced that users of accounts it identity-proofed could add a FIDO U2F USB security key as a second sign-in factor. CyberScoop reported that three federal agencies had signed up, but ID.me did not name them. The announcement is historical: it does not establish which federal websites accept security keys today.
What ID.me announced in 2017
CyberScoop reported on September 12, 2017, that ID.me was adding FIDO Universal Second Factor (U2F) security keys to the verification options available for accounts whose identity proofing it handled. At the time, the service also offered methods such as SMS text messages and landline calls. The key was an additional factor: a user would enter a username and password, then use a registered key when prompted.
ID.me said three federal agencies had signed up for the option, but did not disclose their names or provide a list of eligible websites. The article also mentioned ID.me’s earlier work providing secure logins on vets.gov; that reference does not establish that the Department of Veterans Affairs was one of the three agencies. CyberScoop’s 2017 report describes the announcement, not a current availability list.
How a U2F key protects a sign-in
U2F is a second-factor protocol, not a replacement for a password. When a compatible service requests the registered key, the key participates in authentication. An important security property is origin binding: as Yubico explains, U2F authentication is tied to the service’s origin, which helps prevent a phishing site impersonating the real service from using the key in the same way.
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- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key C NFC via USB-C and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
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This makes a hardware key a phishing-resistant factor, not an absolute guarantee against account compromise. A stolen key, weaknesses elsewhere in an account or service, and account-recovery processes can still matter. ID.me CEO Blake Hall called a physical key “un-phishable” in the statement quoted by CyberScoop; that was Hall’s characterization, not a guarantee that an account could never be compromised.
U2F and FIDO2: what the terms mean
The FIDO Alliance now refers to U2F as CTAP1. FIDO2 comprises the W3C WebAuthn specification and the FIDO Alliance’s Client to Authenticator Protocol (CTAP). CTAP1 allows existing U2F devices to act as second factors on FIDO2-enabled browsers and operating systems, according to the Alliance’s FIDO user authentication specifications.
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- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5C NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5C NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
That standards relationship does not mean every FIDO2 service accepts every U2F key, nor that every USB key works with every device. A service must support the relevant authentication method, and the key must have a connector or wireless interface that works with the computer or phone being used.
A separate federal example: login.gov’s FIDO2 rollout
The later rollout of FIDO2 on GSA’s login.gov was separate from ID.me’s 2017 announcement. In its case study, the FIDO Alliance says GSA began the rollout in September 2018, supporting security keys and built-in authenticators. The case study reports the following adoption figures for that historical rollout:
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- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5 NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5 NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
| Period or milestone | FIDO2 adoption reported by the FIDO Alliance |
|---|---|
| Initially | Approximately 2,000 new users, or 0.2% of new users, adopted FIDO2. |
| After login.gov required users to register a second MFA option | New FIDO2 security-key registrations rose to 17,000 per month. |
| By late June 2019 | About 27,000 keys had been registered; adoption was about 3% of new users. |
These figures describe login.gov’s rollout as reported by the FIDO Alliance; they are not statistics for ID.me’s 2017 announcement and do not describe current adoption.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can you use a USB security key on a federal website today?
Possibly, but it depends on the specific sign-in service and the key. The 2017 CyberScoop story does not name the three agencies, and the sources cited here do not establish which ID.me-backed federal sites currently accept keys. Do not infer present-day compatibility from the historic announcement or assume that a key accepted by one government login will work on another.
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- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key NFC via USB-A and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
- Check the exact federal service’s current sign-in instructions for accepted security-key standards, such as FIDO2/WebAuthn or U2F.
- Confirm that your key’s standard and connection—USB-A, USB-C, NFC or another supported interface—match both the service and the device you will use.
- Review the service’s backup-factor and account-recovery options before relying on a key as your only practical way to sign in.
For example, Yubico says its Security Key Series supports FIDO2 and FIDO U2F in its product information. That establishes support for those standards in the product family, not acceptance by every federal website; verify service compatibility before choosing a key.
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