👍 #854 – Yes, SMS Two-Factor Authentication is Broken; Use it Anyway

This week's articles & videos

There's been another vulnerability discovered in SMS text messaging that can impact its security when used for two-factor authentication.

You know what that means?

Headlines! Click-bait headlines! "OMG SMS Two-Factor Is Broken!! Stop Using It! Now! Or Something Horrible Will Happen!"

For crying out loud. Yes, there's a problem, but, no, it doesn't neccessarily mean you should stop using SMS two-factor.

Yes, SMS Two-Factor Authentication is Broken; Use it Anyway tells you what you need to know, and what you need to do -- or not.

Also this week:

• A long strong unique password is important, but it doesn't protect you from everything.
• About those long passwords: what if they're long but somewhat simpler?
• Isn't keeping all those passwords in one place a security risk?
• Disk and backup terms: partition.

TEH Podcast

Gary and I riffed on a topic near and dear to our hearts, and something we get complaints about all the time: change. We also touch on some scarey, but cool, technology: deep fakes. That's TEH 130: Adventure Time! Dealing with Change<./p>

Hope you're well and healthy,

This Week's Featured Article

Yes, SMS Two-Factor Authentication is Broken; Use it Anyway
SMS two-factor authentication is still better than nothing.

SMS messaging has some serious security vulnerabilities, but does that mean you should always avoid it? No.

https://askleo.com/131589

Also This Week on Ask Leo!

9 Ways Your Account Can Be Compromised, Even with a Super-strong Password There's more to security than 2cbMM8DS7Dwg3FWMVuSv.
Strong passwords are important, but they don't protect you from everything. I'll look at other ways your account can be compromised. https://askleo.com/4492

Are Longer Passwords Better, Even If They're Simpler? When it comes to passwords, size really does matter.
A longer password of repeating characters is more secure than a short complicated password -- but there's more to security than cracking. https://askleo.com/6373

What's a Disk Partition? Yet another way of organizing data.
Partitions allow a single physical disk drive to be treated as if it were multiple disks. https://askleo.com/131019

Isn't Storing Your Passwords In One Place a Security Risk? It depends on the place.
Yes, password managers put all your information in one place. It better be a very good place. https://askleo.com/131148

Ask Leo! on YouTube

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Isn't Storing Your Passwords In One Place a Security Risk? Yes, password managers mean you are storing all your information in one place. It better be a very good place. https://youtu.be/wGwgIC7ItUo

What's a Disk Partition? Partitions allow a single physical disk drive to be treated as if it were multiple disks. That's a disk partition. https://youtu.be/udDkSdKLFGk

Are Longer Passwords Better, Even If They're Simpler? A longer password of repeating characters is more secure than a short complicated password -- but there's more to security than cracking. https://youtu.be/3QUk_rKyXv8

Yes, SMS Two Factor Authentication is Broken; Use it Anyway SMS for Two Factor Authentication has some serious security vulnerabilities, but does that mean you should always avoid it? No. https://youtu.be/B5k_k3e-ciE

Setting up Windows 10 for privacy Windows 10 privacy seems to be somewhat of an oxymoron, at least on its initial release. I'll review choices you can make at setup to retain some control. https://youtu.be/Yc9Zm-6TqLU

9 Ways Your Account Can Be Compromised, Even with a Super-strong Password AsStrong password is important, but they don't protect you from everything. I'll look at other ways your account password can be compromised. https://youtu.be/JmyjHXr25oc

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