[guest opinion: Bruce Schneier] Some speculate that the new Apple iPhone to be announced tomorrow will come with a fingerprint authentication system. Apple would be smart to add biometric technology to the iPhone; fingerprint authentication is a good balance between …
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Smoke goes up. Lights fade. The crowd roars. It’s 2003, and the Dave Matthews Band is about to perform what would go on to become the theme song for security processes the world over a decade later. Weird visualizations aside, it sure seems as if two-step authentication has become all the rage these days. With Google implementing the process in 2011, both Apple and Dropbox have followed, and Evernote has made clear that it’s going to join the fray as soon as feasible. Now, leaked imagery is demonstrating that Microsoft might not be far behind, with a two-step verification process evidently planned for its online services.
As you’d expect, the process should work pretty simply once it’s instituted — you’ll need to enable two-step on your account, and then use an app on your mobile device to retrieve randomized keys when logging into a computer that’s not on your trusted device list. Notably, the process isn’t expected to work with linked accounts, and while a Windows Phone app appears to already be floating about, there’s no word on whether Android, BlackBerry or iOS users will receive the same courtesy. Till then, keep your passwords guarded. And, of course, watch the video embedded after the break.
Filed under: Software, Microsoft
Source: LiveSide, Windows Phone Store
Apple begins rolling out two-step authentication for Apple ID and iCloud users, highlighting the growing importance of security as our digital lives move to cloud-based services. Here’s how to set it up (and why it’s important).
Twitter accounts are getting hacked left and right. Today it was Burger King. Before that, it was the Westboro Baptist Church (Admittedly, they deserved it). And before that, it was us and Mat Honan. Hacks will always happen, but this is dumb because Twitter could make this all go away. Forever. All we need is two-factor authentication and it’s insane we haven’t gotten it yet. More »
Following up on its promise to tighten account security following a recent breach, Dropbox is now offering two-step login authentication to users who install the service’s latest experimental desktop build. The team says the functionality will roll out to all users in the coming days, but listed full instructions to forum users who just can’t wait. Those who op-in only need to download a new version of the Dropbox desktop software and activate the feature in their account settings. Once set up, Dropbox will require all unrecognized machines to provide a code, culled from an authenticator app or received via text message. The firm also provides an emergency back-up code that’ll disable the feature should you lose your phone. Feeling insecure? Check out the source link below to get started.
Update: Dropbox just made it official, detailing set up instructions once more on the Dropbox blog.
Dropbox two-step login verification available in experimental build, coming to all accounts soon originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 04:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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