IT Horizons Blog

Lately, it seems like every time we sign in to something, we're being asked to set up a passkey. What's that all about? Companies like Microsoft, Google, Apple, Amazon, and many financial institutions are moving toward passkeys as a replacement for passwords and text message verification codes. As online threats continue to evolve, passkeys are quickly becoming the new standard for secure sign-ins. So, what is a passkey, and do you actually need one? What's a Passkey? A passkey is a secure way to sign in to an account without needing to remember a password. Instead of entering a password and then waiting for a verification code, you use something you already use to unlock your device, such as: Your fingerprint Facial recognition Your device PIN A physical security key (like Yubikey) A password manager (like Bitwarden or Proton Pass) Passkeys are designed to be both easier to use and...

With all the positive advancements in information technology, the growth of cyber crime has been a notable drawback. Cyber crime refers to committing theft or any other criminal act through the use of computers or any other tech gadget. In the past five years, Ransomware has been a major source of cyber crime activities. Ransomware is a malicious software that does not allow you to access your files if it takes over your computer. The creator of the software demands ransom (as the name suggests) from the victim, if they want to gain access to their files again. The payments are normally made in non-traceable transactions through a cryptocurrency (normally Bitcoin) to ensure the attacker’s safety. The victims get so confused and scared that they immediately agree to pay the amounts without considering if the hacker will grant them access or will not do it again. The hacker prevents you...