Latest Internet Security Innovations You Need To Know

April 23, 2014

In the wake of the HeartBleed vulnerability discovered about two week ago internet security firms have been advising you to change your passwords. This can be a daunting task that nobody likes to do. We find ourselves asking the question, are passwords obsolete?

The Internet has known for quite some time that passwords are very insecure. We’ve been trying to come up with a better solution then a personal password for quite sometime.

Technology has come along way and there are plenty of devices that we are now looking at to secure website passwords.

1. The cellphone

Using text-messaging websites have created a two-step verification process. You login normally with your password and the website sends you an SMS message with a secondary password to enter into the website before logging in.

Pros: This makes it harder for a hacker to access your account. They would need access to both your devices.

Cons: This means you have to use your cell phone to login to your account every single time you need access and then you have to wait for the text message and type it into the website.

2. Biometrics

This covers a long array of different biometric sensors including facial recognition, finger print scanners, eye scanners and even a watch that syncs to your hearts rhythm.

Can biometrics really be the answer? Biometrics does give us unique identifiers. At the moment facial recognition, finger print scanners, eye scanners, and biometric watches are not going to secure the Internet. It’s like having one single password for every website. If a hacker ever got hold of the data transmitted from these devices to the website that hacker would have undeniable control over every single one of your Internet accounts.

We’re really waiting to see whether biometrics will pan out. Maybe there is a genius out there with a solution.

3. Facebook Connect

This nifty little Facebook feature lets you login and register for websites using your Facebook account.

Pros: Logging in and registering is a quick process that uses just one account. There is just one password to remember!

Cons: Your personal details from Facebook can be released to that website.

From a internet security point of view, anyone that gains access to your Facebook account can access any of your Facebook connected accounts. So if your password is not secure on Facebook, your other accounts are at risk too.

So what should you do to secure your online accounts?

Create a password formula

A password formula is a unique and easily rememberable password for each website you visit. For example my name is Jeremy Haber and right now I’m on Simplistics. My formula could look like:

jeremY_123H@Simp

You see what I did there? I took an identifiable element of myself and placed it into a password and added the first 4 digits of the website.

Here are five rules for creating a strong password formula:

1. Use a mix of capitals and low case letters.
2. Try and avoid using common phrases or your name.
3. Use a number and symbol.
4. Use part of the site name to change your password throughout different sites.
5. Make your formula rememberable so you don’t forget.

We’re hopeful that text-based passwords will one day become obsolete. Here’s hoping for a better future of passwords!