Types of USB port ?

deejaybee

Hi,

I have been considering buying a "YubiKey" to make 2FA logins more secure than the SMS based 2FA method.

But they are for USB "A"  or USB "C",  wheras my ( admittedly few years old ) laptop has 2 x USB 2.0 and 1 x USB 3.0.

I'm wondering whether the A & C are just the USA versions of 2.0 & 3.0 ?  Or am i using dinosaur tech !

Ta

Tigsteroonie

I'm a lay person but I believe USB 2.0 and 3.0 are both USB-A (the latter is a faster speed). USB-C is a very different shaped connector.

deejaybee

Cheers Tigsteroonie

neilmcl

USB Types A, B, C etc are physical connection types, with USB Type-C replacing a lot of the older micro USB (A) plugs on things like mobile phones etc.

USB 2.0, 3.x, 4 are connector standards supporting different speeds. I believe USB-C is compatible with speeds up to 40Gbps, eg, USB 4.0.

jamesd

Best to get the version with a USB-C connector and one of he cheap A to C adapters. The dongle itself will probably be fine in either a socket supporting up to 2.0 or up to 3.0.