AdamKB @ AOL.COM - Weblog

DULLES, VA and BEDFORD, MA, September 21, 2004 - America Online, Inc., the world's leading interactive services company, and RSA Security Inc. (Nasdaq: RSAS), a leading provider of solutions that secure and manage online identities, today announced the launch of AOL PassCode, a new premium service that offers members a second level of AOL account protection through the use of a keychain-sized device that generates and displays a unique six-digit numeric code every 60 seconds.

"AOL PassCode is like adding a deadbolt to your AOL account by automatically creating a new secondary password every 60 seconds," said Ned Brody, AOL's Senior Vice President for Premium Services. "Many of our members use their accounts for business purposes, financial transactions or other sensitive activities. AOL Passcode offers a higher standard of protection through the same state-of-the-art two-factor authentication system used by many financial institutions, technology companies, and other major businesses. We're proud to be the first online service to offer this extraordinary supplementary level of security protection to our users."

AOL PassCode offers a higher standard of protection for members through the same RSA SecurID® state-of-the-art two-factor authentication system already used by thousands of businesses worldwide. AOL members using PassCode must enter their normal account password and the current device code in order to access their account.

"The emergence of new and more pervasive online threats and an increase in what consumers can and want to do are requiring better ways to protect personal information online," said Art Coviello, President and Chief Executive Officer at RSA Security. "AOL PassCode is a powerful, yet simple tool that helps ensure an AOL account, and the information in it, is being protected by one of the world's strongest authentication technologies. RSA Security leads the market in strong two-factor authentication, and we're pleased to work with AOL to extend that leadership into online consumer identity protection."

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Availability:
AOL is offering AOL PassCode as a premium service to AOL members for a one-time cost of $9.95 for each device plus an additional $1.95 - $4.95 per month, depending on the number of screen names on the account that are secured to an AOL PassCode device. To sign up or learn more, members can log on to the AOL service and visit Keyword: PASSCODE or call 866-568-6843.

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Definitely something to consider for people who are frequently targetted or use their AOL accounts for confidential business purposes.

Be aware, however, that AOL's SecurID challenge will not work with non-AOL email clients (and I'll update the IMAP Guide accordingly). I'm told the functionality is built into AOL-authorized programs like Netscape and AOL Communicator.

Further Coverage:

Reuters: http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/business/article.adp?id=20040921010109990005
AP: http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/business/article.adp?id=20040920191609990002
Slashdot: http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/09/21/125243

Update, April 7 2005:

Jason wrote in today to confirm the rumors that you can use PassCode with AOL's IMAP and SMTP servers. First, don't store your password, because it's going to change every time. When your mail program prompts you for the password, enter your AOL password, followed by a slash, followed by the device code. For example: mypassword/12345.

I haven't tested this personally, but I've had it confirmed by several people. Enjoy!

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