Because improved security is never a bad thing.
Google on Wednesday announced that it would be including native support for the W3C WebTuthn implementation for Google Accounts running on Apple devices running iOS 13.3 or later. This improves the security key experience on iOS and allows for additional security key types to be used with Google accounts and Google’s Advanced Protection Program.
This, in turn, allows iOS users to use Google’s Titan Security Keys with NFC, which allow the user to be able to tap the key on the back of the iPhone when signing in at a security checkpoint.
Lightning or USB security keys like the YubiKey 5Ci can be used with Google accounts if you have an Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter. USB-C security keys can be plugged directly into iOS devices with a USB-C port, such as Apple’s iPad Pro models.
Google has recommended that users install its Smart Lock app to be able to use both Bluetooth security keys and the iPhone’s built-in security key, which can offer additional protection for a Google Account.
The company has also recommended that Google users at a higher risk of targeted attacks utilize security keys and enroll in its Advanced Protection Program, which offers extra account protection via physical security keys.
Using a physical security key provides more protection than two-factor verification because it requires you to have the physical key (or the iPhone Key with the Smart Lock app) to sign in to your Google accounts rather than just a digitally generated code.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via MacRumors and security.googleblog.com