News

Google acquires audio ID startup SlickLogin

Warwick Ashford Monday 17 February 2014 08:58

Google has acquired Israeli startup SlickLogin that has developed technology that enables online services to authenticate a user with sound waves.
SlickLogin confirmed the acquisition on its website but did not provide any financial details of the deal.

Online services that use SlickLogin play a unique sound inaudible to humans over a user’s computer speakers which is picked up by the SlickLogin smartphone app and sent back to confirm identity.
SlickLogin's technology uses a combination of protocols, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and QR to verify that a user's smartphone is in the same location as the computer being used to access to the online service.
The technology’s creators claim it offers “military-grade” security as everything is heavily encrypted and the sound transmissions will work only with the user’s smartphone at a particular moment in time.
According to the firm’s website, SlickLogin’s three founders are recent graduates of the Israeli defence force’s elite cyber security unit, and have more than six years’ experience working on cutting-edge information security projects.

More on authentication

• IT industry group releases password-killing standard
• Password-based authentication: A weak link in cloud authentication
• Biometrics key to frictionless authentication, says BioCatch
• Alternative authentication: New authentication methods for enterprises
• Risk-based authentication (RBA)
• Multifactor authentication (MFA)
• Best of authentication 2012
• Master VMware identity authentication strategies
• Biometric authentication methods: Comparing smartphone biometrics

The technology can be used either as a replacement for a password or as an additional security layer to enable two-factor authentication.
Google was one of the first online firms to offer two-factor authentication to users, with several others following suit in light of several high-profile leaks of usernames and passwords.
Most two-factor authentication systems in use rely on one time pass cards sent via text message or codes generated by tokens or other special gadgets.
However, text-based systems are vulnerable because if hackers compromise accounts they can change the mobile number set to receive the codes.
SlickLogin eliminates this vulnerability and does not require users to carry around a separate gadget for generating codes as used by some UK banks.
Some analysts expect Google to use the technology to enable two-factor authentication for Android devices and all Google services.
The acquisition is consistent with Google’s goal to enable easier, more-secure online authentication.
In October 2013, Google confirmed that it is planning a two-factor authentication token, and the firm is also a member of the  Fast IDentity Online (Fido) Alliance.
The alliance is an open industry consortium set up to develop standards for simpler, stronger authentication and recently published draft technical specifications for a new authentication protocol.
The Online Security Transaction Protocol could eliminate the use of passwords in the future by enabling the interoperability of a variety of multi-factor identity checks.
These include include biometrics, Trusted Platform Modules (TPMs), USB security tokens, embedded secure elements (eSEs) and smart cards.

Related Topics: Identity and access management products, IT for utilities and energy, IT for consulting and business services, IT for transport and travel industry, Technology startups, IT for manufacturing, IT for charity organisations, IT for telecoms and internet organisations, Privacy and data protection, IT for leisure and hospitality industry, IT for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), IT for government and public sector, IT suppliers, IT for retail and logistics, IT for media and entertainment industry, Hackers and cybercrime prevention, Healthcare and NHS IT, IT for financial services, VIEW ALL TOPICS

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How to create QR codes.

 

How to create QR codes

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Back to how-to homepage

Things you'll need

• A QR code scanner the barcode you create works
• Internet connection

QR (short for Quick Response) codes are two-dimensional barcodes. When used well they offer a new and low-cost way to engage users with your charity. QR codes could be used in outdoor, direct mail or print advertising campaigns.
This is a quick guide outlining different uses for QR codes and how to create them for your campaigns.

1

Get a smartphone scanner

In order to read QR codes you will need to install a scanning app on your smartphone.
Two reliable scanners are the Red Laser app or alternatively the Tag Reflex app.

2

How do I create a QR code?

There is a whole array of options out there for creating QR codes, I have listed a couple below giving a step by step guide for the Bit.ly QR code generator.
Bit.ly QR codes
Bit.ly is a url shortening service which now allows you to generate your own QR codes, to generate a code you need to follow this simple process.

Step 1

Visit bit.ly, write or paste in a URL address, click “Shorten,” and add .qr to the end of the generated bit.ly link (like so: http://bit.ly/9STstv.qr).

Step 2

You will then need to copy the modified bit.ly link into a new browser window to view the QR code, which you can then print out, send to your friends via e-mail, post on your blog, etc.

Alternative options

GOQR- a great QR generator, really flexible allowing you to create bring up text message on scanning or if you want to display the QR code in your digital campaigns by easily accessing the embed code. http://goqr.me/
QR Stuff- Allows you to create codes and offers a whole array of different options such a printing QR codes on t-shirts but you do have to pay for a premium service to receive analytics from scans.
If none of these take your fancy try this comprehensive list of QR generators.

3

Get coding

Ok, I know QR codes look scary but producing one is pretty straight forward and they have the potential to unlock a new method of audience engagement through your print campaigns. Different ways you could use QR codes include, print adverts, direct mail campaigns or outdoor fundraising appeals on trains or buses.
QR codes are free/low cost to create and increasingly they are being used by private sector organisations and charities, so why not give QR codes a try?

4

Examples of how QR codes are being used

Feel free to edit this guide with examples of how you've used QR codes in your professional work. Have you used them on business cards, in your annual report or fundraising material? How successful has it been?

DAIN

This QR code example (on Flickr) is of a promotional postcard for the DAIN project. Scanning this code takes you to the project website. Try it out! If you have a barcode scanner on your phone, scanning this image should take you to the DAIN Digital Activists Blog.

Museums

Museum collection gets QR codes - this article in the Guardian shows how the National Museum of Scotland is using QR codes to help people explore their collections.

Further information

• Graphic of the history of QR codes (JPG)
• About QR codes (wikipedia)
• Benefits of using QR codes in Direct Mail (Holborn Direct Mail)
• 10 ways marketers can use QR codes (eConsultancy)
• 11 dubious uses of QR codes (eConsultancy)
• Mobile barcose QR technology (social media charity) - includes examples of QR in action.

Filed under: appeals, public relations, communication, online giving, media management, gifts, donation, giftaid, technology, corporate giving, pr, press coverage, mobile, communications, philanthropy, donations, raising money, marketing, fund raising, marketing and communications