this post was submitted on 28 Sep 2023
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The concept of hardware key is precisely to be removed as soon as you are not in front of the device.
In my case, I'm using one this way. It is tethered to myself with a metal chain, so as soon as I'm not in front of my computer, they are separated and my sensitive data protected. Of course it won't prevent someone from threatening to harm me in order to get access to said key, but he might as well do the same to get access to any kind of password.
Keys can be confiscated. But in most juristicions you can't legally be forced to give up a password.
Please take the threat modelling of other people seriously without second guessing it. If people explain openly why they have a certain threat model, I might already give them away to potential attackers.
Unfortunately I'm in one of those jurisdiction where you have to give password if asked by a competent authority (France). If confiscation during transit is a threat in any place I go, my FIDO2 key take another route than I do.
That wouldn't help if they search your home.
I'm appalled that France is already so anti-privacy. But unfortunately, I can't say that I'm surprised.
There is privacy and privacy.
If the authorities ask you for your password to unlock a device for a valid reason, it is legitimate for them to be able to force you to reveal your password. Even taking it into account, you can refuse, but you'll be fined for it.
Those access are logged, and pretty limited if they want to use it as proof against you later. Even if they find something damning against you, if the procedure isn't respected, they cannot use it against you.
I don't know why you need such tight security that it has to protect against legitimate law enforcement, but if they really want to get to your data, you can trust me, no amount of TPM, security keys and the like will prevent them to lock you up untill you give them your keys.
Except if you cannot, in which case a removable hardware key which do not stay with you unless you are actively use it is the only solution. Most of them have passkeys to prevent them to be used if stolen.
"Legitimacy" is in the eyes of the beholder. There are precedents of activism being criminalized to a ridiculous degree.
Also, decrypted data could jeopardize someone else. Especially in activist groups, this is a risk.