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

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

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,

Leo

This Week's Featured Article

Yes, SMS Two-Factor Authentication is Broken; Use it Anyway

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.

9 Ways Your Account Can Be Compromised, Even with a Super-strong Password
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.

Are Longer Passwords Better, Even If They
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.

What
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.

Isn
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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Posted: March 30, 2021 in: 2021
Shortlink: https://newsletter.askleo.com/8562
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Confident Computing is the weekly newsletter from Ask Leo!. Each week I give you tools, tips, tricks, answers, and solutions to help you navigate today’s complex world of technology and do so in a way that protects your privacy, your time, and your money, and even help you better connect with the people around you.

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I'm Leo Notenboom and I've been playing with computers since I took a required programming class in 1976. I spent over 18 years as a software engineer at Microsoft, and after "retiring" in 2001 I started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place to help you find answers and become more confident using this amazing technology at our fingertips. More about Leo.