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Increase your security and peace of mind with this doorstop when you travel

I’ve seen a lot of security devices for travelers, but many of them tend to be alarms that sound when someone attempts to open the door.  The Veritas Travelers Doorstop is designed more to keep out intruders than to merely alert you to someone breaking in.  It’s made of a solid aluminum wedge with a hardened steel adjustment- and anti-slip screw.  Simply slide the wedge under the door and use the screw to elevate it until the door is solidly wedged closed.  Should anyone push in against the door, the Veritas simply wedges in tighter and the pointed screw digs into the subfloor to keep the door from sliding open.

The wedge works with both concrete and wooden subfloors, and there will be no damage to either the carpet nor the subfloor if no one tries to force open the door.  Veritas weighs only 7 ounces, and it comes with its own travel case.  It’s available for $29.50 from Lee Valley Tools.

The Kensington VeriMark adds a fingerprint reader to your existing laptop

Plug the Kensington VeriMark Fingerprint Key into a USB port on your laptop and you now have an easy way to sign-in to Windows and websites with the touch of a finger.

The Kensington VeriMark Fingerprint Key features 360° readability with anti-spoofing protection and is compatible with Windows Hello™. It’s also FIDO U2F certified to work with online sites including Google, Dropbox, GitHub, Facebook, and others that have 2nd-factor authentication login requirements.

Be aware that this key is not compatible with MacOS or Chrome OS.

You can read more about the VeriMark Fingerprint Key at www.kensington.com and you can buy one for $49.99 from Amazon.

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The Kensington VeriMark adds a fingerprint reader to your existing laptop originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 25, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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No key, no combination, no problem with the Nokē padlock

The Nokē Bluetooth enabled padlock lets you ditch both keys and combinations in favor of your magical touch. Ok, you’re not really magic. The Nokē lock looks for a Bluetooth connection to your phone and the Nokē app and automatically opens the lock when you click it.

You don’t even have to take your phone out of your pocket, launch the app or click an unlock button. As long as there’s a connection between your phone and the lock, it will open. The way it works is almost identical to the Kevo smart deadbolt lock that I reviewed last year.

The lock is made of steel, is waterproof, and runs on a battery that should last about a year before needing a replacement.

The Nokē can even be used with an optional Bluetooth key fob for people who don’t use a smartphone.

You can read more about the Nokē padlock on their website or buy one for $56.99 through Amazon.

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No key, no combination, no problem with the Nokē padlock originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 23, 2017 at 5:12 pm.

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Yubico YubiKey 4 hardware security key review


In today’s world of technology and internet security, there always seems to be a website being hacked and personal details being compromised.  A password, even a complex one, isn’t really enough.  Luckily there are a few options out there to make our data a bit safer. You can use two-factor authentication with software (using an authenticator app on a mobile phone, for example) or using a hardware key, such as Yubico’s YubiKey. Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your account that you, and only you, can access in order to prove your identity. Let’s take a look at how the YubiKey 4 and 4 Nano work.Note: Images can be clicked on to view a larger size.

Different services use different types of security protocols. YubiKeys are capable of performing multiple protocols, so you can use the same key for almost an unlimited number of services. U2F is a popular open authentication standard that enables internet users to securely access any number of online services, with one single device, instantly and with no drivers, or client software needed.

YubiKey 4 Series comes in multiple form factors. Each option includes the same internal components, functionality, and capabilities. I was sent the 4 and 4 Nano.

The YubiKey 4 fits on a keychain and plugs into a USB-A port such as on my 2015 Macbook Pro

The YubiKey 4 Nano is good for semi-permanent installation and also plugs into a USB-A port. I have put mine on a lanyard for convenience.

Benefits of the YubiKey

  • Prevents unauthorized access by requiring the physical presence of the key to log in on that device
  • Easy to use: Plug it in and touch the gold button or edge; no codes to type or apps to install
  • Affordable: The same YubiKey can be used with nearly unlimited services
  • Durable: Crushproof and water-resistant, no batteries or moving parts
  • Everywhere: Use it on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Chrome OS for Chromebooks
  • Convenient: Fits on a keychain, in a wallet, or inside a USB port

The YubiKey 4 Nano is on the left, and the YubiKey 4 is on the right. For size reference, I’ve included an US dime coin.

YubiKey works with tons of online services and applications such as Google, Facebook, Dropbox, Windows, MacOS Sierra, and password managers such as LastPass, Dashlane, KeePass, etc.

For LastPass, it was very easy to set up the YubiKey. In account preferences, it will ask you to insert your device into the USB port and touch the gold plate on the key itself.

It then acts as a keyboard and types a long string of characters into the YubiKey slot.  You can add multiple keys for extra security, which is really nice to have. (This is a feature of LastPass Premium.)

The same process goes for adding it to any of your favorite online services. Look into account preferences for an option along the lines of “set up a hardware key”. Then insert your YubiKey, follow instructions, and all is set. The YubiKey 4 and 4 Nano work exactly the same by touching the gold plating on the device to activate the key when logging in.  It’s given me peace of mind knowing that I have an extra layer of security on top of my two-factor authentication mobile app and password. To note, you aren’t stuck if you lose your YubiKey or don’t have it near you. You can still log in with a mobile authenticator token, or old-fashioned password.

I highly recommend investing in a second or third round of protection for your most used and important websites.  The YubiKey is available at a discount for education, GitHub users, and also available in bulk trays for businesses.

Source: The sample for this review was sent by Yubico. Please visit their website for more info.

 

Product Information

Price: $40-50
Manufacturer: Yubico
Requirements:
  • USB A port
  • Mac, Windows or Linux computer
Pros:
  • Very easy to set up
  • Secure
  • Portable
Cons:
  • Very easy to lose unless attached to keys or a lanyard

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Yubico YubiKey 4 hardware security key review originally appeared on on May 31, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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SAFEGO is a lock box for your valuables


We travel to Florida once a year and our favorite activity when we’re there is to relax on the beach under an umbrella. When we need a break from all that relaxing, we like to walk along the surf soaking up the sun and looking for shells. Sounds perfect right? It is except that I’m usually a little nervous that someone is going to steal our stuff while we’re away from our beach chairs. 

Sure, we could wear a bag and put our valuables in it while we were walking, but that just sounds cumbersome, especially when you’re bending over to pick up a shell every few feet. Another possible solution is the SAFEGO Portable Safe.

The SAFEGO is made of high impact ABS plastic with a keyed lock and a built-in custom 3-digita combination lock that secures a 6mm heavy-duty steel cable. The cable can wrap around the frame of a beach chair or any other object.

The water and sand resistant 7″ x 4″ x 7.5″ compartment is large enough to hold phones, money, credit cards, passports, etc. There’s even a pass-through that you can use to route your headphone cord from a device inside the SAFEGO or route a cable from a backup battery stored inside the SAFEGO to your device on the outside.

The SAFEGO Portable Safe is priced at $39.00 and is available in black, white, blue, pink or gold at safego.us and Amazon.

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SAFEGO is a lock box for your valuables originally appeared on on April 26, 2017 at 10:16 am.

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