Online security
A security patch for your brain
The quickest way to improve online security is to upgrade your mental software

Mar 24th 2012 | from the print edition

(01) TWO decades ago only spies and systems administrators had to worry about passwords. But today you have to enter one even to do humdrum things like turning on your computer, downloading an album or buying a book online. No wonder many people use a single, simple password for everything.

(02) Analysis of password databases, often stolen from websites (something that happens with disturbing frequency), shows that the most common choices include “password”, “123456” and “abc123”. But using these, or any word that appears in a dictionary, is insecure. Even changing some letters to numbers (“e” to “3”, “i” to “1” and so forth) does little to reduce the vulnerability of such passwords to an automated “dictionary attack”, because these substitutions are so common. The fundamental problem is that secure passwords tend to be hard to remember, and memorable passwords tend to be insecure.

(03) Weak passwords open the door to fraud, identity theft and breaches of privacy. An analysis by Verizon, an American telecoms firm, found that the biggest reason for successful security breaches was easily guessable passwords. Some viruses spread by trying common passwords. Attacks need only work enough of the time − say, in 1% of cases − to be worthwhile. And it turns out that a relatively short list of passwords provides access to 1% of accounts on many sites and systems.

(04) Fingerprint scanners and devices that generate time-specific codes offer greater security, but they require hardware. Passwords, which need only software, are cheaper. In terms of security delivered per dollar spent, they are hard to beat, so they are not going away. But they need to be made more secure.

[ . . . ]

(Adaptado de http://www.economist.com/node/21551060; Acessado em 28/03/2012)

Segundo o texto, “password”, “123456” e “abc123” são exemplos comuns de

Microsoft's test version of its new Skype for Windows Phone app lets you call Skype contacts over 3G, 4G and wi-fi networks. Larry Greenemeier reports

March 1, 2012

(01) Nine months ago, Microsoft announced an $8.5-billion bid to buy Skype, the provider of voice-over-Internet Protocol software and services. The move promised to add an important video chat feature to help handsets running the Windows Phone operating system better compete with FaceTime on the iPhone and Android's Google Talk feature.

(02) But when the move would actually happen has been something of a mystery. At January's Consumer Electronics Show Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer barely even mentioned Skype during his keynote speech.

(03) Now we know that the wait is almost over. Microsoft just released a test version of its new Skype for Windows Phone app. The free app lets you call Skype contacts over 3G, 4G and wi-fi networks.

(04) Of course, as with all software test versions, there's no doubt room for improvement. For example, Skype for Windows is now available only in English. And you can't receive calls ..^I.. the app is open and running on your phone. It's likely, ..^II.. , that most issues will be worked out by April, when the market version of the app should be ready to say hello.

(Adaptado de http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=skype-video-chat-arrives-for-window-12-03-01; Acessado em 03/04/2012)