Access "Alternatives to passwords: Replacing the ubiquitous authenticator"
This article is part of the December 2011 issue of Breaking the code: Are passwords destined for obscurity?
The joke voted the funniest at the Edinburgh Fringe this year was about an unlikely subject: “I needed a password eight characters long so I picked Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.” Funny or not, the fact that it made so many people laugh just shows how much passwords -- and the challenges they pose -- have become part of our mainstream 21st century existence. Passwords have been a problem since the dawn of computing. They tend to be either so complex that no one can remember them, or so obvious that anyone could guess them. And the problem is getting even tougher. Anyone who has an encrypted laptop, conducts online banking or online shopping, and uses social networking sites is likely to have dozens of passwords to remember: far too many for one human mind to retain. Some users choose to write their passwords down on paper and keep them in their desk drawers or (even worse) stick the paper to their computer screens. Others take the line of least resistance and use the same password for multiple accounts. Either route is risky. Voice is the only biometric ... Access >>>
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Features
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Alternatives to passwords: Replacing the ubiquitous authenticator
by Ron Condon, UK Bureau Chief
As the relative security of passwords falters, are they destined for obscurity?
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Alternatives to passwords: Replacing the ubiquitous authenticator
by Ron Condon, UK Bureau Chief
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A pen tester’s perspective on creating a secure password
by Mike McLaughlin, Contributor
A pen tester explains the importance of creating a secure password
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A pen tester’s perspective on creating a secure password
by Mike McLaughlin, Contributor
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News
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Is it the end of the line for antivirus signatures?
by Ron Condon, UK Bureau Chief
Traditional antimalware can't keep up with the threat landscape. Are antivirus signatures destined for the rubbish bin?
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Is it the end of the line for antivirus signatures?
by Ron Condon, UK Bureau Chief
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Columns
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Opinion: Firms can’t or won’t address social networking security risks
by Ron Condon, UK Bureau Chief
It's a common refrain: Even companies that are aware of social networking security risks don't do anything about them.
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Opinion: Firms can’t or won’t address social networking security risks
by Ron Condon, UK Bureau Chief
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