There were more than 40 major data breaches in the U.S. in 2017, which included such big names as Dun & Bradstreet, FAFSA, Gmail, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Verizon, Uber and, of course, Equifax. And just now, we all find out about Meltdown and Spectre, hardware bugs that affect the majority of computers out there (just what we needed to hear!). Cybersecurity is a major threat and it isn't slowing down or going away anytime soon.
So what can you do? Of course, you need to stay aware of the current issues and implement the recommended patches or other actions to resolve the issues. Your company's IT department should be staying on top of that and taking care of it, but individuals need to be cognizant and diligent in their actions and behaviors as well. Never click on emails or links from people you don't recognize - better to miss what may have been a legitimate email than to destroy your entire system because you downloaded malware. Have antivirus/malware protection on your computer and run it regularly.
On a smaller scale, restricting access to your PC can also help. Kensington has introduced the world's first fingerprint security key to support Windows Hello and Fast IDentity Online (FIDO) universal 2-factor authentication (U2F). It's called the VeriMark Fingerprint Key.
This key supports Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 operating systems. Let's take a look at the key features:
Advance Fingerprint Technology - This feature combines biometric performance and 360 degree readability with anti-spoofing protection. It exceeds the industry standard for False Rejection Rate (3%) and False Acceptance Rate (0.002%)
Universal Integration - Provides scalable, out-of-the-box access for Windows computers and platforms, including biometric login for Windows Hello (Windows 10 only).
FIDO U2F Certified - Ensures seamless interoperability and meets 2nd-factor security key logon requirements for cloud-based service and software providers (including Google, Dropbox, GitHub and Facebook).
Password Manager Compatibility - Supports popular programs like Dashlane, LastPass(Premium), Keeper (Premium) and Roboform. Allows the fingerprint to authenticate and automatically fill in usernames and passwords for websites. The Password Manager is only available for Windows 10 and is compatible with Internet Explorer, Google Chrome and Firefox.
Compact Design - Easily attaches to a standard keyring for portability.
Biometrics have been used effectively for many years. Fingerprint scanning is just one type of biometric, and it's an excellent one to use. Fingerprint patterns can't be guessed, misplaced or forgotten and an image of the fingerprint isn't saved - only specific characteristics are saved (usually as a binary code). The algorithm can't be converted to an image, so no one can duplicate your fingerprints. (Source: www.bioelectronix.com)
Kensington has been giving us quality products for over 25 years and the VeriMark Fingerprint Key is an inexpensive way to protect against unauthorized access on your company's computers.