Yubico Bring Open Source Two-Factor Authentication to Google Services

Dec. 15, 2008 - PRLog -- STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN and SUNNYVALE, CA -- Yubico (www.yubico.com), the leading open source and USB authentication company, and Clavid, a Swiss identity provider, today presented a joint proof of concept for adding a second layer of security to Google Apps, a business productivity and communications platform managed by Google.

The YubiKey, Yubico’s invention, is the industry’s first USB-key providing instant and secure access to networks and services, from any computer platform or browser, without the need for client software or drivers.  The revolutionary device plugs into any USB slot and with a simple touch on the YubiKey, sends the user's identity and a unique pass code every time one logs into an online service, such as Google Apps.

“With YubiKey, users of Gmail and other Google Apps can now enjoy the additional trust from having a secure hardware key, without the cost and complexity associated with traditional strong authentication solutions”, says Stina Ehrensvard, Yubico CEO and Founder.  “This solution further enhances the wide choice of services and applications available to the growing Yubico community.”

Typically, Google Apps users enter a username and password to get access to their Web-based mail, calendar and groupware software, but with the YubiKey they also use the thin USB-key to add two-factor authentication.  The YubiKey works seamlessly with any hardware and operating system combination supporting USB keyboards such as Windows, MacOS, Linux and others. The key generates and sends unique time-variant authentication codes by emulating keystrokes through the standard keyboard interface.

Clavid developed the SAML server used to verify the login concept for Google Apps. By the beginning of next year, a complete service for logging in to Google’s services will be available.

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About Yubico
Yubico is the leading online security company specializing in open source USB authentication products. In business since 2007, with over 750 customers in 35 countries, the Yubico technology is being rapidly adopted by developers and web 2.0 companies around the world. The team is based in California, Sweden and UK. www.yubico.com

About Clavid
The Clavid AG is the first Internet Identity Provider in Switzerland to offer professional IT security solutions. www.clavid.com

Press contact:
Stina Ehrensvard, Yubico CEO & Founder  | stina@yubico.com | Tel: +46 702 87 00 12

YubiKey pictures:
http://www.yubico.com/news/pictures/

Logging in to Google Apps with YubiKey video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t6UygPo1cY



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Yubico is the leading online security company specializing in open source USB authentication products. In business since 2007, the Yubico technology is being rapidly adopted by developers and web 2.0 companies around the world.