Questions tagged [security]

A branch of computer technology known as information security as applied to computers and networks.

The objective of computer security includes protection of information and property from theft, corruption, or natural disaster, while allowing the information and property to remain accessible and productive to its intended users. The term computer system security means the collective processes and mechanisms by which sensitive and valuable information and services are protected from publication, tampering or collapse by unauthorized activities or untrustworthy individuals and unplanned events respectively. The strategies and methodologies of computer security often differ from most other computer technologies because of its somewhat elusive objective of preventing unwanted computer behavior instead of enabling wanted computer behavior.

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Facebook detects if you are logged in Gmail

Today I was playing with some web security, and there was a surprise when I decided to test the Forget the Password link on Facebook. I chose to send the password reset code to my Gmail address, and right after that Facebook pops up with another…
Raisen
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Why did I get a "There's been a change to your Google account" message and password reprompt?

I got a message on my mobile today: "There's been a change to your Google account" along with a prompt to re-enter my password. Could someone be using my account or is this a known issue?
Sherif
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How does Google's new two-factor authentication work with IMAP, POP, etc.?

I'm very excited about Google's new two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication means, in this case, that instead of just authenticating based on "something you know" (your password) you also authenticate based on "something you have." In…
Joel Spolsky
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Is there a safe way to save passwords?

I have a lot of passwords from various websites. I never use the same one twice, but the problem is that I keep forgetting them so I want to save them somewhere. If I'm on the same computer I can save them in the browser. However, that doesn't work…
delete
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Can I generate backup codes for AWS multi-factor authentication (MFA)?

I'm using multi-factor authentication (MFA) to log into the Amazon AWS console. I'm using Google Authenticator on my Android phone to generate the one-time tokens. Other services sometimes provide one-time backup codes in case the token device is…
a paid nerd
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How can I be certain that a URL-shortened link I click isn't going to send me to a dangerous or unwanted site?

When I see a shortened URL, I'm always hesitant to click it because I don't know where the link is going to go. (In the worst case, it may lead to an XSS exploit against a site that I'm logged in to) How can I tell where the link is going to…
Daniel LeCheminant
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How, exactly, does a Facebook worm work?

I initially had assumed that a FB friend of mine was spreading a malicious link because she had innocently accepted an app and given it privileges, but she says that's not the case. See the exchange: Friend: "Don't click on the link you got from me!…
JCCyC
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How do I untrust a computer with Google two-factor authentication?

I use Google's two factor authentication to send my phone text messages with a string of 6 numbers every time I log into a computer that isn't mine. It has worked well so far until today. Today, I took too long to enter the code, which would be fine…
Aeo
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How to remove Dropbox access from a computer you no longer have?

I have Dropbox installed on a few computers. One of which I no longer have access to. I no longer wish for that computer to be able to have access to my Dropbox account but I see no way to stop that computer with Dropbox installed from being able…
user225034
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How to re-add the security question in Gmail?

As we all might know that today is "Safe Internet Day". So Google is reminding us for the security check-up. I tried it. And I saw that I could remove my security question. I did it with the belief that I will add a better question (I forgot the…
manshu
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How can I get a warning if someone try to hack my Gmail account?

Is there a hidden feature in Gmail, that let you know each time someone has tried to login to your account with a wrong password? LogMeIn has this feature. Is there something like that in Google Gmail? It should work very simple: you getting mail…
stacker
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Does Facebook provide an SSL/TLS interface?

Does Facebook only support HTTP or does it have HTTPS also?
Kevin Panko
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How do I protect my Google/Gmail account?

I have seen lots of horror stories of people who have lost control of their Google account, especially Gmail. How can I prevent the same thing from happening to me? What steps can I take to protect my account before I lose control of it?
ale
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Is there a way to hide status updates from a friend on Facebook? (Boss Mode)

I have friends on Facebook that I like to see their status updates, but I don't necessarily want them to see my status updates. People like my boss, or my mum. Is there any way I can still be friends with them, but just block them from seeing my…
lomaxx
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Can I use one-time passwords with Gmail?

I am about to leave for a trip. During this trip, I would have to connect to my Gmail account, and I'm totally unhappy to type my password using public, unsecured machines, potentially having keyloggers and similar nice stuff. I already use 2-step…
Arseni Mourzenko
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