Evernote saves some face, adds two-factor authentication

By Jam Kotenko March 5, 2013

evernote-logo2 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Remember when Evernote sent out a message last Sunday via email alerting its 50 million users of a massive security breach that involves a possible leak of usernames, email addresses, and passwords? To correct this privacy mishap, the productivity platform announced the fix they intend to employ as soon as possible: two-factor authentication.

In last Sunday’s warning, Evernote apologized for the annoyance of having to reset your password, but they “believe this simple step will result in a more secure Evernote experience.” The investigation on the matter showed no signs of any payment information for Premium and Business members being accessed, but it did reveal that the hackers responsible for the attack accessed a list of Evernote usernames, email addresses, and passwords that are “protected by one-way encryption”.

According to Information Week, Evernote already had previous plans of implementing an optional two-factor authentication to its users later this year, but because of the recent data breach that it suffered, they have decided to increase their efforts in finalizing their plans now.

What exactly is two-factor authentication? As explained by Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, to Information Week, it’s just an added measure to prevent attackers from accessing encrypted passwords. You can garner two-factor authentication through a one-time code that is generated in one of three ways: by an app installed on your smartphone, via text message sent to your phone, or by a hardware fob. Companies like Blizzard even offer more than one alternative, making available hardware tokens (available for $6.50) while also offering a free app for smartphones. Other companies that have adopted two-factor authentication include Amazon Web Services, Dropbox, Facebook, Google and Gmail, LastPass, Microsoft SkyDrive and Xbox Live, PayPal, Yahoo Mail, as well as various websites that provide money-related services.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Web

Former Digital Trends Contributor

When she's not busy watching movies and TV shows or traveling to new places, Jam is probably on Facebook. Or Twitter. Or…

Social Media

Bluesky barrels toward 1 million new sign-ups in a day

Social media app Bluesky has picked nearly a million new users just a day after exiting its invitation-only beta and opening to everyone.

In a post on its main rival -- X (formerly Twitter) -- Bluesky shared a chart showing a sudden boost in usage on the app, which can now be downloaded for free for iPhone and Android devices.

Computing

How to make a GIF from a YouTube video

woman sitting and using laptop

Sometimes, whether you're chatting with friends or posting on social media, words just aren't enough -- you need a GIF to fully convey your feelings. If there's a moment from a YouTube video that you want to snip into a GIF, the good news is that you don't need complex software to so it. There are now a bunch of ways to make a GIF from a YouTube video right in your browser.

If you want to use desktop software like Photoshop to make a GIF, then you'll need to download the YouTube video first before you can start making a GIF. However, if you don't want to go through that bother then there are several ways you can make a GIF right in your browser, without the need to download anything. That's ideal if you're working with a low-specced laptop or on a phone, as all the processing to make the GIF is done in the cloud rather than on your machine. With these options you can make quick and fun GIFs from YouTube videos in just a few minutes.
Use GIFs.com for great customization
Step 1: Find the YouTube video that you want to turn into a GIF (perhaps a NASA archive?) and copy its URL.

Social Media

I paid Meta to ‘verify’ me — here’s what actually happened

In the fall of 2023 I decided to do a little experiment in the height of the “blue check” hysteria. Twitter had shifted from verifying accounts based (more or less) on merit or importance and instead would let users pay for a blue checkmark. That obviously went (and still goes) badly. Meanwhile, Meta opened its own verification service earlier in the year, called Meta Verified.

Mostly aimed at “creators,” Meta Verified costs $15 a month and helps you “establish your account authenticity and help[s] your community know it’s the real us with a verified badge." It also gives you “proactive account protection” to help fight impersonation by (in part) requiring you to use two-factor authentication. You’ll also get direct account support “from a real person,” and exclusive features like stickers and stars.