Yahoo launches ‘on demand’ passwords

Yahoo has launched a new service called "on-demand" passwords, which would completely eliminate the outdated and unsecure password logins. The authentication process sends a new password to the users registered mobile phone, every time they have to log into their Yahoo account.

To use the feature users have to register their mobile number and turn on 'on-demand' passwords in their accounts security settings. After that whenever users try to login, they will see a "send my password" button, and Yahoo will message a four-character password to their phone. Read: 123456, Password top worst passwords of 2014: SplashData

Dylan Casey, Yahoo's vice president of product management for consumer platforms, stated, "This is the first step to eliminating passwords."  

Several of the world's most well-known companies, including Sony, Google and Apple, have fought high-profile security vulnerabilities. Cyber security has become a top concern among the tech companies, and they have been working on removing weak and in-efficient password system, in favor of biometric readers like fingerprint scanners. Read: Gmail, Yahoo make phone number mandatory for new email ids

Apart from the "on demand password" Yahoo also revealed a working version of its new end-to-end encryption system at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. The feature makes it easy to encrypt emails with just a click of a button and is a part of the company's efforts to boost privacy after the Snowden revelations about NSA surveillance.

Alex Stamos, Yahoo's chief information security officer stated, "Our goal is to have this available by the end of the year. Anybody who has the ability to write an email should have no problem using our email encryption."

Source: Yahoo

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Silky Malhotra

Silky Malhotra loves learning about new technology, gadgets, and more. When she isn’t writing, she is usually found reading, watching Netflix, gardening, travelling, or trying out new cuisines. View Full Profile