Print this article | E-mail this article | Comment on this article

New AOL Service Moves Past Passwords

By David Worthington, BetaNews

September 21, 2004, 1:20 PM

For some AOL users, passwords have just become the computing dinosaurs. America Online has partnered with RSA Security to create AOL PassCode, a premium service that secures and manages AOL ScreenNames.

AOL PassCode utilizes RSA's SecurID two-factor authentication scheme where a random six-digit numeric code is generated in intervals of 60 seconds from a keychain sized device. AOL claims that this added safeguard provides a second level of account protection.

The service is primarily directed toward small business and customers who pay bills and manage funds online. PassCode costs an additional $1.95 USD per month, with a one-time service fee of $9.95 USD.

Add a Comment (15 Comments)

BetaNews reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Foul language and personal attacks will not be tolerated.

By kyleegbert

posted Sep 28, 2004 - 7:11 PM

For a major internet service provider, they shouldn't make this service a choice between increased security and higher prices. Their prices are already high enough. It should be AOL's obligation to give their costumers the highest security available as a fundamental feature, not an add-on. A very poor choice for AOL.

Score: 0

By bourgeoisdude

edited Sep 29, 2004 - 9:58 AM

agreed, although I don't know that aol has made any great choices since they merged with time warner. Oh well...I don't use aol anyway.

Score: 0

By hehon

posted Sep 24, 2004 - 10:26 PM

AOL charges $23.95/month for internet service and when they finally have a useful feature available they want people to pay extra money for it, lol.

Score: 0

By ae6dx

posted Sep 22, 2004 - 12:49 PM

Where do I get this new thing? I'm an AOL member.

Score: 0

By dougkuntz

posted Sep 21, 2004 - 11:08 PM

Honestly.. they have for Remote Hosts, and the like. Previously, it was a dongle that connected to the PC.

Score: 0

By Nonesuch

posted Sep 21, 2004 - 11:05 PM

It doesn't make a heck of a lot of sense to use strong authentication for America Online users. What are you protecting?

I understand AOL using SecurID for their employees and moderators, companies using challenge-response for their corporate data, banks promoting one-time-passwords for online banking.

But what is there to protect on an AOL account? Your inbox and IM history?

Score: 0

By switchstance

posted Sep 22, 2004 - 12:50 PM

You're joking, right? Billing information, personal emails, etc... the same you can glean from any account. Members have just as important information as employees. Protecting AOL as a whole is crucial. Smart move by AOL. I mean, they're only the LARGEST target on the Internet. Any steps to protect their members are not only responsible of them, but expected.

Score: 0

By pateltjp

posted Sep 22, 2004 - 11:49 AM

Its all about protecting your online identity.

Score: 0

By pipdipchip

posted Sep 21, 2004 - 8:44 PM

I have not entered my password to AOL in months. I got a fingerprint scanner and using software allows me to place my finger down and it will enter the password for me. Neat stuff.

Score: 0

By RobertM

posted Sep 22, 2004 - 4:57 PM

But that has nothing to do with this. With AOL PassCode, you need to still need to enter your password and then the number found on the RSA device. It's adding another layer of protection.

Score: 0

By Pizda

posted Sep 22, 2004 - 10:45 AM

you cool, man. where can i get a gadchet like that?

Score: 0

By towerdave

posted Sep 21, 2004 - 1:49 PM

The article I read indicated that passwords were still required in addition to the code generated by the RSA device. Doesn't sound like this would appeal to most AOL users, but I could be way off base here. Especially with the extra cost.

TowerDave

Score: 0

By Erator

posted Sep 21, 2004 - 5:44 PM

This honestly doesn't sound like something that thousands of users are awaiting to jump on... Unnecessary in my opinion.

Score: 0

By Erator

posted Sep 21, 2004 - 5:43 PM

This honestly doesn't sound like something that thousands of users are awaiting to jump on... Unnecessary in my opinion.

Score: 0

By jordenpro

posted Sep 24, 2004 - 4:38 PM

Fingerprint scanning only protects someone thats trying to do something on your computer. It's not like AOL has to scan their fingerprint to pull up your information. So that's usless in this post.
As far as the extra security for AOL, really it's only protecting unathorized access, if I had your password, I don't have access to your billing information, I could change it, but not view it.
This new feature is strickly to keep unathorized users from accessing your account. I feel the real problem is internally.

Score: 0

Nov 21 - 6:51 PM ET Coalition urges better laws for e-mail and cell phone privacy

Nov 21 - 6:42 PM ET How is Internet advertising faring in this bad economy?

Nov 21 - 6:15 PM ET From out of the Amazon Cloud, an AWS winner emerges

Nov 21 - 5:20 PM ET Mufin music finder enters public beta, adds widgets

Nov 21 - 5:01 PM ET Google launches its SearchWiki semantics plug-in

Nov 21 - 4:57 PM ET Asus previews a slimmer, less costly Eee PC

Nov 21 - 4:32 PM ET New Adobe Media Player ushers in AIR 1.5

Nov 21 - 2:11 PM ET AT&T to add Pantech's low-cost C630 phone to 3G lineup

Nov 21 - 1:11 PM ET iPhone gets firmware 2.2 update

Nov 21 - 11:51 AM ET The Dell surprise: Higher earnings on lower revenue