password

Users of remote access tool GoToMyPC will need to reset their passwords as a security measure after an attack by hackers. Although creators Citrix describe it as a "very sophisticated" attack, it's simply another case of hackers targeting people who ... continue to re-use passwords on multiple sites. GoToMyPC is a tool that lets users remotely access their PC or Mac using another computer or mobile device. As with most such tools, the computer being remotely accessed must be switched on and connected to the Internet. The actual system that powers GoToMyPC, and its database of login ... (view more)

Management at TeamViewer, a remote access computer tool, have confirmed that a "significant number" of users have fallen prey to hackers. However, the company insists that all evidence suggests that there is no flaw in the system, but is instead ... pointing fingers at its users. TeamViewer allows users to login to a remote computer (even their own) from anywhere with an Internet connection. Once connected, users can operate the computer just as if they had physical access to the machine. The security for the system works in two ways: first, users get a reference number that identifies ... (view more)

Two online accounts belonging to Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg have been hacked. The incident, thought to have resulted from a LinkedIn data breach, is a high profile example of the dangers of poor password choices. The hackers, calling themselves ... OurMine Team, took control of Zuckerberg's Twitter account and posted a message informing him of the breach. They also claimed to have accessed his Pinterest account (which appears to be correct) and his Instagram account, which doesn't appear to be the case. Perhaps the one point of relief for Zuckerberg is that his Facebook account was not ... (view more)

A series of massive but dated breaches of high-profile sites is yet another reminder of the dangers of poor password security. While the sites in question are taking preventative measures, experts warn that hackers could use the stolen details to ... access other sites. In the past few weeks, hackers have offered up massive hauls of stolen login details from four major sites. They include details of 360 million accounts from MySpace and 65 million accounts from Tumblr, both lists appearing to date from 2013. Questions Posed For Sites And Users This follows 164 million account details from ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Sam S. writes: " Dear Dennis, I recently upgraded to Windows 10. During the installation procedure, it asked me to enter in an email address. I did that, however, now I can't remember what password I used for the email address - ... and now I can't login to Windows 10! I am completely locked out of the system. How can I get back in if I don't know my email password for Windows 10? If I'm able to get back in, how can I set it up so I can login without having to use the email login? " My response: This is a very frequently asked question. The short answer is that you can attempt ... (view more)

Google is working on an option to replace password logins on mobile devices with a "trust score" based on multiple factors. The idea is to combine all sorts of factors that aren't secure enough on their own. The idea is to balance the need for ... security with the hassle of remembering passwords by building on the concept of two-factor authentication. That's an existing philosophy that deals with the inherent weakness of using a single login factor such as a password. Two-factor authentication combines a password with another factor such as using a specific device or having ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Joe M. writes: " Dear Dennis, I am running Windows 10. When I go to Hotmail (Live.com) to login and view my emails, I am automatically logged into my account. I would much rather be able to log into my Live email account manually, ... but I don't see an option for this. How can I disable the Hotmail automatic login? Other people use the computer and I do not want them gaining easy access to my email account. I'd rather I had to sign in every time. Thanks for any help you can provide. " My response: With the release of Windows 10 last year, Microsoft has integrated many of its ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Sheila P. writes: " Dear Dennis, How do I disable my Windows 10 password so I can log into Windows 10 automatically? Ever since I upgraded to Windows 10 I have to enter in my email address and then a password. Before using Windows ... 10, I was using Windows 7 and the system booted straight into the desktop. I want to do the same thing with Windows 10. Can you help? " My response: It is possible to login to Windows 10 without a password, but doing so is a very poor security policy. If someone were to gain access to your device (whether it was by remote or locally), they could ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader John C. writes: " Dear Dennis, Hope you are well. I have a calendar program called VueMinder Pro that I use on my Windows 8 PC. I also use Google Calendar on my smartphone, and VueMinder Pro syncs its information with Google ... Calendar so I can share information between devices. The syncing has worked great for a while, but lately VueMinder Pro keeps popping up with a window asking me for my Google account password. In other words, VueMinder Pro won't sync with Google Calendar. I have changed my Google password multiple times and disabled 2-step verification in my Google ... (view more)

Yahoo has introduced an option to log in without needing to remember a password. It requires a cellphone and may trade security for convenience. Under the new system, which is optional, users can choose not to use a standard passwords for future ... log-ins. Once activated, the system will mean a button appears on Yahoo's site when the user is ready to log in to the account. When the user clicks this button, Yahoo sends a one-time only, four character password to the user's cellphone. Once the user logs in, the password field becomes inactive. The process is then repeated the next time ... (view more)