How protected are nitrokeys (or other security keys overall) against search warrants?

I’ve been thinking on getting a NitroKey for some time now, but one thing that worries me is how protected against a search warrant it actually is.

as far as I know, in pretty much every democratic country out there, passwords are protected against search warrants and, you may chose not to tell and they can’t force you to tell the passwords to your devices (and accounts too) however, from what I’ve seen, other types of stuff used to unlock devices (like biometrics for example) seem to not be protected at all against search warranties and authorities can force you to unlock your devices through biometrics.

would NitroKeys also be protected? I think in the case of seizure of all electronics device, authorities COULD use the NitroKey (seized) to gain access to devices/accounts or could force you to use it. Is there any protection for this or should people dealing with this more extreme threat model stick to passwords?

A security key is typically protected by a PIN or password. Without this PIN or password, the security key is essentially useless for unauthorized users. The level of protection provided by the security key against physical theft or seizure is contingent upon the robustness of the PIN or password.

In scenarios where there is a heightened risk of physical threats, such as confiscation, it is advisable to select a strong password to secure the security key. As you mentioned, in most countries authorities are unable to compel individuals to disclose their PIN or passwords.

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oh that’s good to know! didn’t knew you could protect them with a password/pin

thanks a lot!

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