GitHub has expanded its authentication system to support the FIDO Universal 2nd Factor (U2F), an open standard that enhances security against phishing and man-in-the-middle attacks using public key cryptography. The U2F standard allows for a seamless user experience without the need for additional software, as it is natively supported by most platforms and browsers. Users are encouraged to integrate U2F into their applications for stronger security, and GitHub has partnered with Yubico, a leading provider of U2F authenticators, to offer discounts on YubiKeys. While a limited edition of U2F Security Keys was initially available for $5, GitHub users can now benefit from a 20% discount on U2F-certified YubiKeys, with an additional discount for students eligible for the Student Developer Pack. To utilize U2F, users must purchase a hardware key from various vendors, and further details on implementation can be found in GitHub’s U2F documentation.