Passwords vs Passkeys

 For years we've been using passwords which sites have been making us make more complicated:

• password
• password at least eight characters plus a special character
• password at least eight characters, cone capital Letter, one number, one special character.

I had a site recently require a 16 character password that contain no actual words plus special characters.

More recently we've been seeing passkeys being suggested or required. 

What the hell are they???

A passkey consists of two parts: a public key and a private key. The public key is stored on the site. The private key is stored on your computer. But actually, it's a bit more complex than that. Here is one pattern:

• You go to the site and enter your email address
• The site looks up your public key based on the email address
• It then requests your private key
• If the private key matches what should be entered based on the public key you have access.

This is said to be more secure because if the site is hacked only the public key can be stolen.

I'm not convinced it's more secure. If the site is hacked does the hacker have the public key AND the email address? If so then I submit its not more secure.

Locked Computer... Grrr!

Have you received a message on your computer screen asking your for money with a promise that your computer will be unlocked only after paying a ransom?

You've un afoul of someone who thru one of various means has infected your computer... maybe.

First do these steps:

• turn off your computer. (Do not do a shut down!!! just force a shutdown. On a desktop pc simply unplug it. On a laptop, ususally there is a key combination that will for it to turn off.
  
  
• Now disconnect yourself run the internet. This may mean turning off your modem.X
  
  
• Now boot up your computer. Do you still see the message? If yes, give me a call at 631.979.3100 and describe your situation. We'll give you a call back. If there is no message open windows defender and do a full scan. This may take hours to run.
  
  
• Now reconnect the internet (perhaps that means turn on your modem).
  
  
• If your problem is sollved, great. If not give me a call at 631.979.3100