Web comic xkcd notes that “through 20 years of effort, we’ve successfully trained everyone to use passwords that are hard for humans to remember, but easy for computers to guess.” The comic above makes a compelling (if knowingly imperfect) argument for password length over obscurity, and in response, one developer put together the xkcd password generator. It does what the comic suggests: strings together four random words to create a tough-to-guess password that’s easy to remember. More »
Web comic xkcd notes that “through 20 years of effort, we’ve successfully trained everyone to use passwords that are hard for humans to remember, but easy for computers to guess.” The comic above makes a compelling (if knowingly imperfect) argument for password length over obscurity, and in response, one developer put together the xkcd password generator. It does what the comic suggests: strings together four random words to create a tough-to-guess password that’s easy to remember. More »
Mac OS X: There are lots of ways to hide your files, but Skedaddle offers one that both useful and fun. It creates a secret drawer in your desktop that opens with a keyboard shortcut and a password. The app is kind enough to walk you through the entire setup process and help you test the preferences you choose. Once you’re all set, you’ll have a little hiding space for your folders and files. You can customize the size of that space as well as how items within it are displayed. While Skedaddle won’t encrypt the data it stores, it does a great job at keeping things hidden that you don’t want people to see. If you’re mainly looking to protect your privacy when others are using your computer, it’s a good app to have. More »
Mac OS X: There are lots of ways to hide your files, but Skedaddle offers one that both useful and fun. It creates a secret drawer in your desktop that opens with a keyboard shortcut and a password. The app is kind enough to walk you through the entire setup process and help you test the preferences you choose. Once you’re all set, you’ll have a little hiding space for your folders and files. You can customize the size of that space as well as how items within it are displayed. While Skedaddle won’t encrypt the data it stores, it does a great job at keeping things hidden that you don’t want people to see. If you’re mainly looking to protect your privacy when others are using your computer, it’s a good app to have. More »
Dear Lifehacker,
I’m upgrading my phone and selling my old one on eBay. How do I make sure all my personal data is off of the phone before I sell it off to someone else? More »
When it launched, millions of us grabbed free Gmail addresses, and associated Calendar, Docs, Voice, and other apps followed. But personal domains are cheap, and claiming an @yourname.com address to use with Google Apps is easier than ever. Here’s why you should. More »
iPad only: The iPad is a device destined to be handed over to friends and passed among family members, but there are no user accounts or variable browser settings. Enter Switch, a clever browser that allows user accounts and anonymous guest browsing. More »
We recently went through a few ways to break into a Windows PC without the password, and it turns out it’s just as easy to break into a Mac too. Here’s how to do it and keep yourself protected. More »
Last week we asked you to share your favorite file encryption tool. We tallied up the votes and put the five top contenders before you in the Hive Five. Now we’re back to highlight the winner and runners-up. More »
BitTorrent's been around for a whopping ten years, but it continues to evolve and remains one of the best file-sharing tools available. If you really want to make your downloads soar—and keep Big Brother out of your business—this guide's for you. More »
