Two Factor Authentication using your Mobile Phone and for free.

George Starcher — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:35:58 +0000

I am a big fan of two factor authentication where possible for high value logins. This is where you enter a changing number to go with your password. This number comes from a device you carry with you. In particular I use the free Verisign mobile token on my iPhone. They make it for many other cell phones. You can install and use it for free with services like paypal, ebay, some banks and even with the free service called PiP (Personal Identity Portal) from Verisign.

The free token program can be found at:
https://vipmobile.verisign.com/

You can get a pip account and use it for any site that supports openID. Giving you two factor authentication even for a lot of blog commenting and forum systems. PiP can be found at:
https://pip.verisignlabs.com/

Verisign has a quick demo video of the mobile token on youTube. Check it out and add some extra protection to your accounts. Especially if you use eBay or paypal.

Protect your PC – What a Racket.

George Starcher — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 18:22:30 +0000

I was browsing the Sunday sales flier for a not so best purchase price establishment. $129 for their team of specialists to “protect your new pc.” Gets you Antivirus, antispyware, installation and a so called speed and performance boost. Ok. Let’s start with antivirus. AVG is FREE for home users. Antispyware? How about Microsoft Defender and occasionally run Adaware, again both are FREE. Top that with setting up your system for OpenDNS and you can block phishing, adult content etc. How much? You guessed it, FREE again. Lastly. Speed and performance boost?!? Are they kidding? On a new pc what are they going to do, remove all the crapware that comes on the pc while replacing it with some half junky bloatware AV package they love to sell in their ads? Any IT person with experience knows the two “classic” AV packages nearly rate as viruses themselves in what they do to Windows stability and performance. Do yourself a favor. Apply the $129 toward a nice iPod Nano, subscribe to some podcasts and use these free solutions instead. Don’t forget going into add/remove programs and removing all that crapware is free too with a few mouse clicks.

Links Mentioned:
AVG Antivirus
Microsoft Defender – Antispyware
Adaware – Antispyware
OpenDNS – help block phishing, adult content etc for free.
Previous FiT Post on OpenDNS

Friends in Tech » Security

Two Factor Authentication using your Mobile Phone and for free.

Protect your PC – What a Racket.