Yubico Forum

Re: How does the YubiKey button work?

2009-12-02T16:16:55+01:00

Is it a Yubikey 1 or Yubikey 2 ?

We have had a few reports on the Yubikey 1 where the touch sensor has caused problems. Certain Yubikey batches together with certain power supplies and environments (dry air) seem to be the common denominator in these cases. The Yubikey 2 sensor has a different working principle and we have not heard about any issues with it.

Please let us know and if there is a device problem, we'll make sure you get a replacement right away.

With the best regards,

JakobE
Hardware- and firmware guy @ Yubico

Statistics: Posted by Jakob — Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:16 pm

Re: How does the YubiKey button work?

2009-12-02T11:00:59+01:00

Also, the Yubikeys work fine in peoples' own homes.

Statistics: Posted by taneli — Wed Dec 02, 2009 11:00 am

Re: How does the YubiKey button work?

2009-12-02T10:06:16+01:00

We are having some strange issues with our Yubikeys ever since we moved to a new office.

Previously we had no issues with the operation of the keys, but now people need to touch a metal part of a computer (pretty much any computer works, doesn't even have to be the same computer where the Yubikey is inserted). Hubs, ports directly on the computer, operating systems, computers, etc. don't seem to matter, except for laptops, which at least some seem to be immune to this issue.

Sounds pretty crazy, huh? We are not imagining this issue though. Since Yubikey works by capacitance, could there be a systematic fault in the electrical connections here (though they are all new and done by professionals)?

Statistics: Posted by taneli — Wed Dec 02, 2009 10:06 am

Re: How does the YubiKey button work?

2009-11-27T00:55:13+01:00

If there is no second identity configured, the Yubikey 2 works just like the Yubikey 1. Holding for a longer time won't cause anything else to happen.

With the best regards,

JakobE
Hardware- and firmware guy @ Yubico

Statistics: Posted by Jakob — Fri Nov 27, 2009 12:55 am

Re: How does the YubiKey button work?

2009-11-26T05:18:19+01:00

I find the sensitivity acceptable. Slightly faster would be preferred provided it didn't cause false triggering. For me, the output arrives shortly after the "it isn't working" thought arrives.

However, I cannot cause a trigger of the second function. After about 1 sec, there is output and holding the button for longer makes no difference.

I thought that it may be because I hadn't used the config program to change anything. I looked in both manuals and didn't find a mention that, as shipped, the Yubico 2 has only one 'personality'.

Statistics: Posted by revver11 — Thu Nov 26, 2009 5:18 am

Re: How does the YubiKey button work?

2009-09-13T09:18:04+01:00

Configurable would be great - I find the config 1 touch fine, but sometimes find myself not holding my finger on the button long enough for config 2, I would prefer the timing for config 2 a slight bit shorter.

Statistics: Posted by IMGrant — Sun Sep 13, 2009 9:18 am

Re: How does the YubiKey button work?

2009-05-04T00:18:12+01:00

Anyone experiencing problems with the sensitivity of the Yubikey button - please let me know and tell about your experiences. E-mail to jakob at yubico dot com.

Regards,

JakobE
Hardware- and firmware guy @ Yubico

Statistics: Posted by Jakob — Mon May 04, 2009 12:18 am

Re: How does the YubiKey button work?

2009-05-01T05:30:35+01:00

I would absolutely love if the sensitivity were configurable. Would this help with a laptop that tends to want to read below -30 (whatever that means) in touch tracking, which is apparently not enough to trigger the typing event? I don't believe it has anything to do with worn down contacts in my USB ports. I think the power saving features of my laptops are the culprit. Unfortunately, on my Aspire One, I have no BIOS controllable ability to fix such a thing, if it were the problem. This is true for all my laptops, in fact. My experience thus far is that the sensitivity needs to be greater from the factory, or configurable. I would prefer it to be configurable.

Statistics: Posted by hiplou — Fri May 01, 2009 5:30 am

Re: How does the YubiKey button work?

2008-07-19T23:46:18+01:00

The timing is fine but yeah at the beginning i thought it was not working.
after reading i understood the delay. good work.

Soto

Statistics: Posted by sjsoto — Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:46 pm

Re: How does the YubiKey button work?

2008-07-19T07:07:23+01:00

The sensitivity and response time is fixed and set in firmware. We had some early thoughts of making this configurable, but concluded that it might just cause confusion if the sensitivity was different for different individual devices.

Again - we're very open to feedback in this matter. Getting the right "feeling" is important and we know that some users have thought their keys were faulty as it did not respond in a snap. As threre is no tactical- or audible feedback, we beleive it should be reasonably slow to prevent accidental triggers when the key is removed or inserted.

Regards,

JakobE
Hardware- and firmware guy @ Yubico

Statistics: Posted by Jakob — Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:07 am

Re: How does the YubiKey button work?

2008-06-30T23:05:14+01:00

I suspect the time cannot be configured.

I would have liked it a bit faster to trigger as we might use it but with re-authentication for sensitive actions, but I understand that this is not a concern for most of your users.

Statistics: Posted by alex — Mon Jun 30, 2008 11:05 pm

Re: How does the YubiKey button work?

2008-06-01T18:30:34+01:00

I like the sensitivity as it is atm. And since the stick is quite loosly in the usb slot a button would be of no good usage (no to speak of water proofness).
I also like how quick the key is recognized (at least at/in my Macbook).

Statistics: Posted by Kreisquadratur — Sun Jun 01, 2008 6:30 pm

Re: How does the YubiKey button work?

2008-05-28T19:29:42+01:00

It is a solid-state switch with no moving parts to allow the device to be overmolded later on. Today we fill it with epoxy resin so having a mechanical / tacktile switch would have been complicated.

It works by the means of capacitance change as the finger changes the stray capacitance to ground. A software filter translates that into a threshold and we've made it intentionally slow to sort out unintentional triggers.

As you may have noticed, that means that it won't work if you prod it with a pen or if you have gloves on.

Are everyone happy with the sensitivity as it is ? Any comments ? I've tried different settings and selected the current sensitivity by my own preference. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Regards,

Jakob E
Hardware and firmware guy @ Yubico

Statistics: Posted by Jakob — Wed May 28, 2008 7:29 pm

Re: How does the YubiKey button work?

2008-05-26T05:21:21+01:00

OK, thanks, now we understand how to use it but could you describe a bit more the technology under that button.
What type of sensor is use, etc...

Thanks
Patgadget
Montreal

Statistics: Posted by patgadget — Mon May 26, 2008 5:21 am

How does the YubiKey button work?

2008-05-13T01:15:28+01:00

Q: How does the YubiKey button work?

A: Touch gently and cover the light ring for one second. See the light ring go off, then release your finger. You will see the one-time password generated shown on your PC screen. Do not press hard on the Yubikey button.

Statistics: Posted by hrag — Tue May 13, 2008 1:15 am