On 02/07/2015 12:48 PM, Always Learning wrote: > On Fri, 2015-02-06 at 17:24 -0600, Les Mikesell wrote: > >> On Fri, Feb 6, 2015 at 5:05 PM, John R Pierce <pierce at hogranch.com> wrote: >>> On 2/6/2015 7:19 AM, Always Learning wrote: >>>> stronger passwords for SQL >>> >>> the hackers had the database administrators user account credentials, and >>> were coming in through the VPN via said credentials. I doubt stronger >>> passwords would have mattered. >> Hmmm, maybe a reasonable argument for the crypto-card type VPNs where >> the passwords aren't reusable... > Excellent suggestion especially as the current 'defences' failed. Rather > senseless for some to rely so enthusiastically upon the existing failed > protection. > > Definitely +1 for that good and safer idea. Two factor authentication is really what one needs for all servers providing secure services: i.e something you know and something you possess Google does this via a password (known) and a key txt'd to your cell phone (something you possess). Simple and quite cost effective as most folk that work on servers are likely to already have a cell phone and it works world wide. I haven't checked if Google offers an API for this, but sending txt messages from a server must not be that difficult to achieve. Another task for my scantly available spare time. >