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MS to Trade Passwords for 2-Factor Authentication
Bret Tobey writes "During a security panel at CEBIT, Microsoft's Senior Director for Trustworthy Computing commented that Longhorn would abandon passwords in favor of two factor authentication. While it's hard to argue for keeping passwords, it does raise questions about where this could all lead. None other than Bruce Schneier pointed out how two factor authentication can fail us."
Two Factor Authentication, MS style (with apologies to Monty Python).
"What... is your name..."
"What... is your favourite colour?"
Does that mean I have to type in 'password' twice?
Name:__________
Email address:_________
Birthdate:__________
Last four digits of SSN:________
Mother's maiden name:___________
[OK] [Cancel]
Instant, foolproof security with no hardware to deal with or passwords to remember.
Except they don't know how to spell "name" and "favourite colour." :-D
"What...is your login..."
"What...is your password?"
picpix image polls. create - share - vote. fun!
As far as I can tell, two factor identification is the dualization of the encryptable factorization process. When the vector based finglestrup is elongated to the point of dypstrontinazation, we find that standard passwords are, in a word, flangoozled. By dishappening the estronable bases, the possibility of grolingering becomes ziponified. All that said, I fully support two factor identification, and you should too.
Hopefully that helps...
...takes advantage of the fact that the folds in each user's rectum are unique to simultaneously provide secure authentication while promoting prostate health.
I'm sure it'll be something like the following:
"Please enter your login"
"Thank you, please enter your password"
"So far so good. Now, reading over the last few emails you've replied to, it appears you have some trouble 'getting it up'. As a final verification, please confirm the date of your most recent order of Viagra"
Kinda like AdSense, but much more intrusive...
thanx for answering that question.
gawd... i can jsut see it now, longhorn is also "for home users"
T: thank you for calling mircosoft
C: yesM i just got back from them there hospital, i done lost my finger in me JhonDeer 600GT riding lawnwoer
T: uhh.. yessss... and..
C: well they couldnt re-attach it ya see
T: riiiighhttt...
C: well sonny how can i log on to my internet box and email my friends to let them know what ive gone and done if i cant log on with this here finger scanner
The More Knowledge you have the Luckier you Get- J.R. Ewing
So if we went to three-factor authentication (Semen, Urine, Faeces), all you would have to do each morning is rub your underwear on the keyboard to authenticate yourself.
I will never, ever, ever go to an internet cafe again.....
Right, which means not only will users forget passwords, but they will also lose their smardcard (which aren't cheap).
Hurray for increasing IT costs! Good job MS, you always come through in that dept.
- Adam L. Beberg - The Cosm Project - http://www.mithral.com/
Now speak the following phrase clearly into the microphone:
"When tweedle beetles battle, it's called a tweedle beetle battle
and when they battle in a puddle, it's called a tweedle beetle puddle battle
AND
when beetles battle beetles with paddles in a puddle, THIS is what they call...
a tweedle beetle puddle paddle battle
AND
when the beetle puddle paddle battle is a battle in a bottle THIS is what they call...
a tweedle beetle bottle battle puddle paddle muddle!"
Voiceprint recorded. Please repeat for verification...
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
MS Tech Support: Well, I'm afraid Sir that since your copy of Windows had it's product activation linked to that one finger, you're no longer legally licensed to use it. If you'd like, I can make a direct withdrawal from your checking account to purchase a new copy of Windows, complete with Internet Explorer 7.01 that you can activate with any of your remaining digits, or, some other body part that you'd be less likely to be careless with.
I'm not tense. I'm just terribly, terribly, alert.