password

Power Downloader's safe getaway

With the weather getting warmer, Power Downloader decided that it was time to get away from his computer and take a little vacation with his niece, Kitty Kilobyte. Of course, the thing he worries about the most when leaving the Power Lair unattended is some would-be criminal getting in and stealing his top-secret documents.

Power Downloader is especially concerned about certain items on his desktop, which need to remain top secret when he and Kitty Kilobyte go on vacation. His plans for thwarting villains, programs that map secret locations, layouts of evil lairs, or other top-secret stuff could mean disaster if they get into the wrong hands.… Read more

Alleged AOL password security flaw raises eyebrows

According to a post Monday on the Washington Post's "Security Fix" blog, AOL's password system may not be quite as secure as it would have you believe. A tipster e-mailed blog author Brian Krebs to say that even though AOL allows your password to be 16 characters long, it only counts the first eight. This could spell bad news for AOL members who might not choose their passwords wisely--namely, those who might include their usernames in them.

"Let's take a fictional AOL user named Bob Jones, who signs up with AOL using the user … Read more

OpenOffice password crack is open to abuse

Security experts have warned that password recovery tools for OpenOffice, the open-source application suite, are vulnerable to abuse.

The release of version 1.0.4 of Intelore's OpenOffice Password Recovery software on Thursday allows IT managers and systems administrators to recover OpenOffice passwords and discard formatting and editing restrictions--for example, locked cell protection and permissions. The software allows password recovery through brute force and dictionary-based attacks, or a combination of both.

"Even if you have lost passwords for all your OpenOffice programs and documents, Intelore's solution can help you quicker than any similar program--OpenOffice Password Recovery supports … Read more

Vidoop: Passwords in a picture, sponsored by Mercedes

One of the companies presenting at the Web 2.0 Expo Launchpad sessions on Tuesday is the very strange security company, Vidoop. This firm makes a system that replaces passwords with pictures. It's quite ingenious, and much more secure than standard, hackable, or keyboard-loggable passwords.

When you want to sign on to a Vidoop-protected site, you're shown a grid of pictures, each of which has a letter stamped on top of it. Your job is to select the pictures in the categories that you've selected as your password. For example, if you've selected car, boat, plane … Read more

Your face is your password

Gone may be the days of remembering passwords or scanning your fingerprint to log on to your PC. If NecSoft's new authentication software catches on, all you'll need is your face.

The NecSoft BiodeLogon system uses a Webcam to take your mugshot, then matches it up to your assigned user photo. If it's a match, you're logged in. So if you need to change your password, just get a haircut or pierce your nose.

Sounds easy...maybe too easy. If you have an identical twin, can they access your PC? What if you're just not … Read more

Devicescape makes Wi-Fi hot spots cooler

Devicescape is a free Wi-Fi helper service that was announced at the Demo 07 conference this past week. It's designed to take the struggle out of connecting to various commercial Wi-Fi hot spots while on the go. After downloading the low profile Devicescape application to your PC, Windows Mobile smart phone, or Wi-Fi-enabled handset, you can instantly connect without having to manage log-ins or remember passwords.

The Devicescape client works with a number of Wi-Fi services, most notably T-Mobile's HotSpot service, which can be found in over 8,000 locations (mostly Starbucks). Devicescape is at work on interoperability … Read more

Forget your passwords safely with PassPack

Passwords are a real pain. It's not so bad dealing with one or two, but once you have five or more log-ins and passwords at various sites, even the sharpest mind will have trouble remembering what goes where. PassPack is a new service that attempts to solve this problem, letting you create a personal archive of log-ins and passwords that can be packed and unpacked with one master password.

After setting up PassPack, you can start plugging in as many accounts as you want. When you're done you can "Pack it up!" using a special packing … Read more

Fill Web forms quickly with Sxipper

Like most webware fans, I love to play with the cool features at sites such as Splice, Jumpcut, and the like, but most of these Web 2.0 ventures require registration, which in turn requires filling out forms and tracking passwords and log-ins. It's not only Web-based applications and community sites. I often get most frustrated when buying airline tickets or holiday gifts through new online vendors. Typing out my entire address and credit card information is fine a few times, but I have lots of relatives, and the 23rd form gets to be a bit tiring.

In the … Read more