How Do Security Key Generators Work

Let’s say you have 25 different online accounts. That means you should have 25 unique — and complex — passwords to manage. And since you know better than to write them down on sticky notes or in a notebook, what are you supposed to do?

A password manager may be just the solution. But what are they, how do they work, and how secure are they? Let’s try to answer some of those questions.

May 12, 2017  How to create a USB security key on Windows 10. Do you use a security key? Have you tried out the YubiKey or created your own security key? How did it work? Any problems with losing your USB.

My security code to activate my 2019 software does not work I purchased TurboTax 2019 Home and Business off of Amazon. The product I ordered was a physical CD that was shipped by Amazon and was factory sealed with security tape. May 12, 2017 There are two ways you can go about getting one of these security keys to add an extra layer of protection: you can buy one, or you can create your own. Let's take a look at both methods, as well as how to actually make your own USB security key using an old thumb drive. The device has a secret key K (known only to the device and to your bank). When you press the button, The device computes F(K, T) (where T is the current time) and outputs it as a 6-digit code. Your bank, which also knows K, can compute the same function. Generate keys by encrypting (with a private key) a known value + nonce. This can be verified by decrypting using the corresponding public key and verifying the known value. The program now has enough information to verify the key without being able to generate keys. Dec 06, 2018 How do USB security keys work and should I get one? Our free computer repair and data recovery help center will help answer most questions. Please contact Data Doctors to repair your computer or recover your data. Dec 06, 2018  How do USB security keys work and should I get one? Our free computer repair and data recovery help center will help answer most questions. Please contact Data Doctors to repair your computer or recover your data.

What is a password manager?

A password manager is a program that houses all your passwords, as well as other information, in one convenient location with one master password. The benefits to using a password manager are:

  • A password manager will do the work of creating the complicated passwords you need to help protect your online accounts.
  • You need to remember only the password manager’s password. That single password will give you access to all of your others.
  • Many password managers offer the extra layer of protection of two-factor authentication. As a result, each time you attempt to log in to your password manager, a unique, one-time verification code is sent to your mobile phone. To complete the log-in process, you must enter the verification code, in addition to your username and password.

Are password managers secure?

Since some password managers are heavily encrypted, it can be a smarter alternative to store your passwords in a password manager than it is to store them in a file on your computer. In the event of a malware attack, the documents on your computer could be encrypted or stolen.

Despite attacks on password managers in recent years, the security benefits of storing your passwords in an encrypted environment can outweigh some of the risks of keeping passwords on your computer or written down in a notebook.

How do password managers generate strong passwords?

Not only do password managers help securely house your passwords, but they can also generate passwords that are unique and complex, which makes them more difficult to crack or guess. To do this, password managers use encryption algorithms.

These algorithms can be difficult to understand. What’s most important to know is that you should use a different generated password for each login to keep your information out of the hands of hackers. Every algorithm-generated password includes a combination of upper and lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers, which are unpredictable.

When you generate a new password through a password manager, you’ll have the option to make it as lengthy and diverse as you like, without the need to remember it yourself. You need to select the criteria that are required of your password, typically provided by the site that you’re logging into, which could include password length among other requirements.

We generated five passwords with the same criteria with Norton Identity Safe, which resulted in extremely diverse sets of numbersand symbols:

  • misp8?epRE_aPr0+ra4E
  • &imiclwrobr5p-lqedRe
  • ge#&6O2ajLwAce$L8#ef
  • xe=E1es-7@IPOcUse0ak
  • stE3rE4ru2Orich8@aDR

As you can see, password generators can help you create passwords that are unique, complex, and difficult to guess, making your logins as secure as possible.

Not only will a password manager provide a strong password, but it can also simplify your life by making account access easier for you and more difficult for hackers. If you’re considering a password manager to help protect your personal information, consider Norton Identity Safe. It’s a free password manager that makes logging into your favorite sites easier and more secure.

Password challenged? Manage your passwords safely and securely online

Norton Antivirus Plus features Password Manager*, making it easy to create, store, and manage your passwords and other credentials.

Securely stores and remembers all your usernames, passwords and more so you don’t have to.

*Norton Password Manager is not exclusively available in this plan and may be available online for free.


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In the interest of data security, some people are turning to third-party USB devices that act as security keys for their PCs. Without one plugged in, your computer won't unlock. It's as simple as that. There are two ways you can go about getting one of these security keys to add an extra layer of protection: you can buy one, or you can create your own. Let's take a look at both methods, as well as how to actually make your own USB security key using an old thumb drive.

One company, Yubico, created the YubiKey, a USB security stick that is compatible with Windows Hello and a bunch of other services that should be kept secure, such as LastPass, KeePass, Google, Dropbox, and Evernote.

Once you have it in your possession, all you have to do is plug it into your PC, register it, and you're ready to go. There are a few different YubiKey options. You have your standard YubiKey that connects via USB, a Nano YubiKey that is much smaller, and a YubiKey NEO that can connect via NFC as well as USB.

Generators

For more information on the YubiKey, including detailed instructions on how to get it all setup, be sure to check out our Executive Editor Daniel Rubino's in-depth guide.

How to create your own USB security key

In an article about clever uses for extra USB thumb drives, we mentioned creating your own security key for your PC. Before starting on this endeavor, however, remember that creating a USB security key for your PC comes with some downsides. If you lose the USB key, you'll have a tough time getting into your PC, especially if you disable the ability to enter a password as a backup entry. You're also going to lose the ability to use one of the USB ports on your PC while the lock is active.

There are more than a few options when it comes to the software used for this process, but USB Raptor, Rohos Logon Key, and Predator are a few favorites, although the latter two are paid services. Rohos Logon Key costs $34, while Predator costs $10.

Since USB Raptor is free, we will show you how to get it set up using Windows 10 and an old thumb drive. It really doesn't matter how much space is on the thumb drive, because all that's created is a 1KB .k3y file.

  1. Navigate to the USB Raptor SourceForge page.
  2. Click the Download button.
  3. Click Save.

  4. Click Open folder.
  5. Right-click the USB Raptor compressed folder.

  6. Click Extract All.
  7. Click Extract.

  8. Double-click the USB Raptor folder.
  9. Double-click the USB Raptor application.

  10. Click the checkbox next to I have read the disclaimer.
  11. Click I agree.

    • USB Raptor will open. At this point, you can plug your USB thumb drive into your PC. Once it's plugged in, you'll be able to continue with the following steps.
  12. Type a password. Be sure it's spelled right, and don't forget it! Ubuntu generate ssh key for github.

  13. Click the dropdown arrow below Select USB drive.

  14. Click a drive. If you only have your USB drive plugged into a USB port, there should only be one option available.
  15. Click Create k3y file.

  16. Click the checkbox next to Enable USB Raptor when you're ready to start using USB Raptor. A small window will pop up in the bottom-right corner of your screen letting you know that it is enabled.
  17. Click Minimize to tray.

As soon as you eject the USB drive or simply pull it out of the port, USB Raptor will kick in. A purple screen shows up with the USB Raptor logo. Only when you plug the USB key back in does it unlock, pretty much instantaneously.

To disable USB Raptor, simply open the app and uncheck the box next to Enable USB Raptor.

Advanced settings for USB Raptor

This covers the simple configuration that USB Raptor recommends, but there are quite a few advanced settings you can tweak by clicking the checkbox next to Advanced configurations near the top-right corner of the window.

Here you can choose whether or not you'd like to use a password as a backup in the event you lose your USB drive, whether there's a delay on the lock when the USB drive is removed, whether or not the .k3y file is matched to the USB drive's serial number (to prevent copying of the file), and more.

Of course, USB Raptor works perfectly well without messing with the advanced settings, so you don't have to tweak anything you don't want to.

Do you use a security key?

Have you tried out the YubiKey or created your own security key? How did it work? Any problems with losing your USB drive or having it fail? Let us know below.

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