Shelly Palmer

Shelly Palmer Radio Report – January 22, 2013

2012 may be known as the year that broke the password. We were continually hearing about a website, e-mail server or Twitter account that got hacked and ruined someone’s day. Google’s had enough. In a report that will be published later this month, Google’s security team looks to the future of passwords, and they’re a lot more physical than you might think. The team has designed a USB-based Yubico log-on device that they’re testing now. This device would automatically sign you into Google after you plug it into your computer. Pretty neat. This device opens up a whole world of possibilities, like having your phone near a computer automatically log you into and out of sites, or even a wearable ring that would let log you in by tapping your PC. While these options would make remote hacking far more difficult, a physical password presents other issues. Lose your ring? Get your phone stolen? Better report it stolen or find it quick!