The folks at Google really, really hate passwords and they are working day and night to find ways to kill them. Past projects include a tattoo to replace passwords and tiny edible electronics powered by stomach acid that serve as biometric security.
The head of Google’s Advanced Technologies and Projects division, Regina Duncan said, “Passwords suck” and called them “relics.” She unveiled Project Abacus, a system developed by dozens of researchers from 16 institutions.
It uses multi-modal biometrics, a system that combines your voice, facial recognition and a knowledge about your habits. All of these things would have to mesh in order for you to have access to your device. If the system finds you accessing programs that you don’t typically access at that time of the day, it may be suspicious about the activity. It will also analyze things like typing patterns to know instantly if someone else is using your phone.
She also showed off Project Vault, which places a small computer completely dedicated to security on a micro SD card. Plug it into your device and it will encrypt your text, video and image files.
Google’s not the only company that wants to do away with passwords forever. Jonathan LeBlanc from PayPal gives a presentation, he calls Kill All Passwords and Yahoo! Mail offers an option where you can receive a text with a new password every single time you log onto your e-mail.
Mcrosoft’s Windows 10 will use Windows Hello to let you use your face, your iris or your fingerprint to unlock your devices without a password.
There’s a big push coming from the FIDO ( Fast Identity Online) Alliance to adopt tougher standards for authentication and passwords just don’t meet these new standards of security. They want passwords to just go away and be replaced by biometric factors based in hardware.
The drawback is, of course, that people are used to passwords. As problematic as they may be, for many folks they seem simpler to use that hardware-based systems that just seem to offer more things to break.
But like it or not, companies are determined to do away with passwords and that’s going to mean big changes for consumers in the coming years.
~ Cynthia
Let ’em do whatever they want so long as they don’t turn over the net to the feds for their covert desires or the states for universal taxation.
I’m seventy five years old and i’m sure there are other folks my age and older that
don’t need this kind of a problem of changing everything.I understand we have to try
and keep up with the times,But DON’T make it harder for us old timers.We are not all
computer geeks.So I say they Should they leave well-enough alone.
Have a great day, Gino
Yes I agree with Gino to a point — I am 65 and am pretty good on a computer but then again I also agree with technology moving ahead — it is inevitable that being said — I don’t really mind a new password each time I log in– dunno about down the line but in the next yr or so — it wouldn’t be a big burden to me
Better not be fingerprints!. Many people, especially those who ate “elderly” and those who worked in industries where skin was exposed to chemicals, Have poor resolution of fingerprint ridges. They simply cannot get a consistent identification with any existing contact device.
So think hard before requires using any system that requires personal external biometric reading where ageing population is using the device.
Passwords be gone!
Leave it well enough alone!
I’m seventy years old and I’m sure there are other folks my age and older that
don’t need this kind of a problem of changing everything. I understand we have to try and keep up with the times, but DON’T make it harder for us old timers. We are not all computer geeks. So I say they Should they leave well-enough alone.
I’m seventy years old and I’m sure there are other folks my age and older that
don’t need this kind of a problem of changing everything. I understand we have to try and keep up with the times, but DON’T make it harder for us old timers. We are not all computer geeks.So I say they Should they leave well-enough alone.
I am 81 years old and have embraced modern technology with gusto. It certainly keeps one on one’s toes and sharpens the mind. Eliminating passwords would be a good thing. Haven’t they been experimenting with using the eye for identification? There are no two irises alike I believe. I do agree that fingerprints can be reduced in clarity with aging.
Jane – I’m with you. I find it interesting that so many people say they want to keep passwords because they are older, but older people are usually the ones who often have the greatest difficulty remembering multiple passwords and sometimes do to mobility issues, problems typing them in on tiny screens.
Leave Passwords alone. New Tech hardware is just!@#$%^&*()_too prone to breakdown just when you need it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big brother is here and it’s called GOOGLE!
Worst part is their whole purpose is greed and controlling everything you see and what you buy. Switched from Android to a windows phone recently and was amazed at the lack of bloat ware trying to track my every move!
The greatest part was crap like FB was easily removed and blocking or removing any other data mining or tracking apps was simple and didn’t require a jail break.
Not only stops scum like FB & google but also saves large amounts of resources from being stolen!!
Passwords are a nuisance. I would love to see them replaced by something else like a fingerprint or iris recognition. I am 71 and have about 50 passwords that I need to keep track of. I can’t remember them all and have to write them down in a notebook. I don’t trust the password programs.
what happens if I want to give my password to someone I trust because I am not physically present?
I have a lot of different passwords and what I do is keep a ledger of web site and the password that way I know what it is when I log on……for me this is the way I keep track and every 6 months I change it….works for me
If I find a simple way I will forward it
Get rid of passwords. It can’t be any worse than windows 8. Everything new takes some getting used to. Embrace the change.
Problem is they got to big and greedy.
Passwords don’t bother me. I use a password generator that stores new passwords. Biometrics are better, and ultimately easier. Query: Will illness render the biometirics unable to read your body correctly? I can visualize an eye disease which would change the reading on the retina. How about injury to your hands or fingers? etc. Thanks.
I can’t wait.
Leave well enough alone. I don’t want to enter a password or get approval for a personal machine that I own in order to use it. I understand using passwords to go to secure sites, but I absolutely detest a company telling me that I have to enter a password to use a machine that I have purchased from them for my own pleasure. I do agree, though, that business computers are a totally different story and do encourage passwords or some other technical security at all levels including opening up the operating system. Why can’t they make a secure entry available where the need exists, but not force it on individuals who don’t want it.
Leave it alone. I use good passwords and don’t want any one messing with it. This is my personal computer and sometimes I may not be here, and my son may need to use this computer. Want it to stay the same.
How will this affect shared computers and websites that my spouse and I access using the same password.
It is coomon in a family that all have access to computers apart from the friends. They must be having something like the present day User Accounts, so that more than one person can access the Computer.
Leave well enough alone. Keep the passwords. There are too many potential problems inherent in switching to a newer ID method. Newer tech is not necessarily better tech. History has demonstrated that.
When I take computer to shop, do I cut my finger off for them to have the
‘password”?