It’s getting so companies that haven’t been hacked are probably starting to feel left out: Blizzard just announced that it …
passwords
The Username/Password System Is Broken: Here Are Some Ideas for Fixing It
Imagine if, in an instant, all the files on your computer vanished, along with all your e-mails and online backups, and therefore any chance of getting those files back. That’s what happened to tech writer Mat Honan, after a …
Facebook: You Should Never Have to Share Your Password with Employers
When the story broke about some employers asking potential employees for their Facebook passwords in job interviews, the public was understandably upset. Apparently, so was Facebook.
This morning, the company’s chief privacy …
The 25 Most Popular (and Worst) Passwords of 2011
Here’s a pro tip: If your password is “password,” it’s probably time to change it.
SplashData, a company that offers a “complete password management and security solution,” culled from data stolen and posted online by …
Facebook Announces New ‘Trusted Friends’ Security Feature
Now you can get back into your Facebook account with a little help from your friends: Facebook just announced a new feature called Trusted Friends, which uses—surprise, surprise—your social network to log you back in if you forget your password.
This is how it works: First, you pick five Facebook friends you trust. If you get …
Smartphones Can Use Vibrations to Steal Passwords
Be careful where you type. Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a way for smartphones to pick up and interpret the vibrations made by typing on a keyboard. In theory, that means a thief could set an iPhone down next to your computer and steal your passwords or blackmail you with copies of embarrassing emails.
How does it work? …
Mozilla ‘BrowserID’: One Password to Rule Them All
If there’s one thing that unites everyone on the internet, it’s frustration with passwords.
No-one likes having to remember them. People have poor memories and just get lazy. It’s so much easier to type mom’s dog’s name than to try and memorize a 16-character string of random letters and numbers. Especially if mom helpfully called her …
Two Minute Video: How to Create Strong Online Passwords
Heard about any good hacks lately?
It’s high time we went over some password rules:
1. The longer the better. Six characters? No. Eight? Meh. Twelve? Yes.
2. Use a combination of uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols.
3. Create a different password for each site. It’s a total pain, I know, but consider one of the …
How to Check If LulzSec Leaked Your Password One Last Time
LulzSec claims they are retiring. The hacker group released a statement saying that they just wanted 50 days of chaos. However, like it or not, they’ve decided that they will not go quietly into the night.
(MORE: Why LulzSec’s Disbanding Doesn’t Really Mean Much at All)
As part of their grand finale, LulzSec has also dropped more …
Why I Can Guess Your iPad Password
Friend of mine, a smart journalist, had his iPad stolen. He couldn’t help that — the thief broke into his house. But his private, personal data wasn’t stolen, exactly. Donated, more like. He had no passcode set on the iPad. All his email, calendar, address book, and work documents were free for the taking. Oh, yeah. He had the iPad …
Who ARE These People? Sony Hack Reveals ‘Seinfeld’ as Most Popular Password
If there has been a silver lining to the recent security breaches at Sony, it’s that they have exposed how insecure major websites, to which consumers entrust their personal information, can be. They show that users should always take their own security seriously.
Another silver lining is that the tens of thousands of usernames and …
EyeLock Will Unlock the Passwords in Your Eyes
Passwords are such a pain. They’re so essential to modern life, but no-one likes using them, or remembering them, or inventing new ones.
Biometrics company Hoyos says it has the solution, with a little hand-held gadget called EyeLock.
Hold it in front of your face, and it scans and recognises the unique patterns in your iris. Once it
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