Twitter did it. And before them, so did Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, Facebook and Dropbox, among many others. And now, LinkedIn has done it too.
The social network for career-minded professionals announced recently that it has added an optional two-step verification feature. The idea is to secure user accounts against the threat of hacking. Typically, these include an added layer of authentication (via codes sent to keys or cell phones) to the typical username/password procedure.
Sadly, even this is no guaranteed safeguard against unauthorized access. Twitter hacks certainly haven’t stopped since the microblogging service launched two-factor authentication last week. Not only was ITV’s account breached, but just this morning, news hit the Web about the White House Press Corps account being hijacked as well.
To be fair, it’s not clear whether the new protocol was enabled in these cases. But that’s the point. Security always comes down to human behavior. And let’s face it — a lot of people don’t want to add irritation to their login process by adopting multi-step authentication. Unfortunately, that’s our best bet right now to lock down those precious accounts. So some users are skipping the feature, while others are sucking it up and flipping the switch.
The question is, now in the 21st century, is this really the best we can do?
Of course not, says one bold tech company. At AllThingsD’s D11 conference, Regina Dugan, Motorola’s head of advanced technology, made a few head-turning remarks about a decidedly biometric approach to authentication. This has nothing to do with those tired old retina scans and fingerprints, mind you. (That’s good, because egads — who would want to imagine the horrifying hacks required to steal logins?) No, Dugan thinks the future of authentication rests in two rather way-out-there concepts: tattoos and electronic pills.
That’s right. These are exactly what they sound like.
The tattoos are more like temporary, stretchy electronic stickers — biostamps, if you will — and they’re made by MC10, a firm known for creating similar products for the healthcare market so nurses can monitor vital signs. But they can also be used for logins, says Dugan. They’re flexible and, unlike phones and keys, they can’t be lost. They’re always on hand (er, skin).
Then there’s the pill, or “authentication vitamin.” This actually involves swallowing a tiny gadget that can uniquely identify you. Worried about ingesting a micro-battery? Don’t. You are actually the power source here. The vitamin literally gets juice from your stomach acids, so the embedded chip can generate an 18-bit authentication key. This is no bizarro concept either. Word has it, the technology has already been approved by the FDA.
Well, at least no one could accuse these approaches of being old-fashioned. And they would indeed mitigate the hassle of fussing with phones, keys, fobs and other doohickeys, just to check your LinkedIn feed from a different device.
Speaking of which, here’s more on the social network’s new protocol.
Without a vitamin or tattoo to depend on, LinkedIn has gone with SMS for second-level security. When users log in from an unknown device, the feature will additionally text a security code that enables access. To learn how to set this up, follow along with the slideshare presentation embedded below.
What do you think about the state of authentication? Do you have any brilliant ideas that can heighten security without increasing user frustration? Or do you like the biometric solutions Motorola has in mind?

Disguise your little one with the help of a themed costume
From avocado halves to hoppy bunnies, costumes speak to every child's unique spirit. And we've collected our favorite options.

Add magic to your living space with these string lights
String lights add personality and soft light to your living space. Here are some of the best.

The Galaxy S20 Ultra's Space Zoom camera is amazing and a bit creepy
The Galaxy S20 Ultra supports up to 100X zoom, which Samsung calls Space Zoom, but is it any good? Can a phone really product usable photos at 100x zoom? We've got our Galaxy S20 Ultra already so join us to find out!

Your beard will look sharp if you're using these beard trimmers
Facial hair can be a serious hassle. Shaving every day can result in razor burn and it can be difficult to get the exact look you want for your beard. That's where having an awesome beard trimmer comes in. This accessory makes grooming and shaping your beard easier than ever.