👍 #877 – How Do Websites Keep Passwords Secure?

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👍 #877 - How Do Websites Keep Passwords Secure?
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This week's featured article

It's a contradiction, it seems: if a website cannot, and should not be able to tell you what your password is, how do they know you've typed it correctly at sign-in time?

In short: magic. In this case: mathmatical magic, called a "hash".

Understanding this will help you know what to look for the next time your email address appears in a large-scale data breach.

How Do Websites Keep Passwords Secure? has the scoop.

Also this week:

TEH Podcast

One of my Ask Leo! videos took off a couple of weeks ago, and it led to a great discussion on backing up, archiving, the difference between 'em, and the best implementation for the latter. Turns out Gary and I independently arrived at the same conclusion and are doing roughly the same thing. Cool stuff, some self-promotion, and a test of . . . video? Yep, I tested an approach to recording my side of the podcast in video, and it was good enough to share. TEH 141: Backups, archives and possibly Pluto.

See you next week!

Leo

This Week's Featured Article

How Do Websites Keep Passwords Secure?

How Do Websites Keep Passwords Secure?
What to look for in every data breach report.

A high-level overview of how websites and services should store passwords security, so next time there's a breach you'll know what to look for.

https://askleo.com/136163

Also This Week on Ask Leo!

How to Email Large Files Using Any Email Program or Service
What to do when large attachments become a problem.

How to Email Large Files Using Any Email Program or Service
Emailing large attachments is typically a bad idea, as your mail may not be delivered. I'll look at alternatives.
https://askleo.com/11685

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What Does the "Mailbox Unavailable" Error Mean and How Do I Fix It?
The email equivalent of "something didn't work".

What Does the "Mailbox Unavailable" Error Mean and How Do I Fix It?
"Mailbox unavailable" is a common email bounce message that tells us very little. I'll review some of the more common causes of "mailbox unavailable".
https://askleo.com/3738

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Find Your Lost Bitlocker Recovery Key in Your Microsoft Account
You may be using BitLocker and not even know it.

Find Your Lost Bitlocker Recovery Key in Your Microsoft Account
BitLocker might be turned on without your knowledge. That's fine, but make sure you have the recovery keys stored somewhere should you ever need them.
https://askleo.com/136189

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If I Share Wi-Fi With My Neighbor, Can They See My Network Traffic?
Plus what else might be exposed.

If I Share Wi-Fi With My Neighbor, Can They See My Network Traffic?
Sharing Wi-Fi with your neighbor might seem like a friendly thing to do, but be aware you are potentially putting your own computers at risk.
https://askleo.com/2395

Ask Leo! on YouTube

Subscribe to Ask Leo! on YouTube to get the latest on YouTube.com. Your subscription (and "Likes") help others find Ask Leo!, and the the answers they're looking for.

If I Share Wi-Fi With My Neighbor, Can They See My Network Traffic?

Sharing Wi-Fi with your neighbor might seem like a friendly thing to do, but be aware you are potentially putting your own computers at risk.
https://youtu.be/yOez7fU7nDY

-

Find Your Lost Bitlocker Recovery Key in Your Microsoft Account

BitLocker might be turned on without your knowledge. That's fine, but make sure you have the recovery key stored somewhere should you ever need them.
https://youtu.be/Pn-PZ2F43SM

-

What Does the Mailbox Unavailable Error Mean and How Do I Fix It?

"Mailbox unavailable" is a common email error message that tells us very little. I'll review some of the more common causes of "mailbox unavailable".
https://youtu.be/SmmtFljGYvg

-

How Do Websites Keep Passwords Secure?

A high-level overview of how websites and services should keep passwords secure, so next time there's a breach you'll know what to look for.
https://youtu.be/sZCbNlrE0lQ

-

How To Email Large Files Using Any Email Program or Service

Trying to email large files as attachments is typically a bad idea as your mail is likely to not be delivered. I'll look at alternatives.
https://youtu.be/CuyJ7rZlg1Y

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Posted: September 7, 2021 in: 2021
Shortlink: https://newsletter.askleo.com/8650
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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.