RSA Joins Microsoft to Secure Windows Passwords

By David Worthington, BetaNews

June 7, 2004, 6:29 AM

Microsoft and RSA Security are cooperatively developing a replacement for
traditional Windows passwords, which generates passwords by using a SecureID token. SecureID tokens are essentially PIN numbers that are refreshed at frequent intervals to add another layer of protection to network security.

Microsoft faced criticism over its Windows password implementation when Swiss researchers published a paper citing a weakness in Windows encryption that allowed passwords to be revealed in an average time of 13.6 seconds.