The permanency of the login information can pose a problem, especially on public computers and insecure networking environments. Anyone in possession of the username and password can log into the service.

That’s why PayPal some time ago introduced optional VeriSign Identity Protection Devices. The devices generate a six digit code that is valid for 30 seconds. This code needs to be entered during the PayPal login to get access to the account.

Microsoft has introduced a similar system to Windows Live. Windows Live users can generate so called single-use codes before they log into Windows Live which can be used instead of the password. A single-use code is only valid once making it an ideal password replacement when logging in on public computer systems or insecure networks.

A single-use code is a code you can use instead of your password when you sign in with your Windows Live ID. Each code can be used only one time, but you can request one whenever you need one. If you’re signing in on a public computer—like at the library or school—using a single-use code helps keep your account information secure

The password replacement becomes invalid the second it has been used to log into the Windows Live service. The single-use code is send to a mobile phone number registered in the Windows Live account. Here is how it works.

It begins with the editing of the Windows Live profile to add a mobile phone number to it. Users who already have a mobile phone number configured do not need to do anything.

windows live login

Each Windows Live login form displays a link to use a single-use code instead at the bottom.

Not your computer? Get a single-use code to sign in with

A click on that link opens the Windows Live Single-Use Code login form. Only the Windows Live ID needs to be entered here. A click on Request a code displays a country selector and a form to enter the mobile phone number.

single-use code

The single-use code can only be requested in supported countries. Codes can be send out to United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Canada and about ten additional countries.

It is advised to try sending out a single-use code once to make sure the code gets send properly to the entered mobile phone number.

The Windows Live Single-Use Code can improve the security of Windows Live users, which includes Hotmail, SkyDrive or Windows Messenger tremendously. There is obviously a new risk associated with this as well. All an attacker needs to log into the Windows Live account is the mobile phone of a user who has configured the phone number in the account. Live users need to keep that in mind if they configure the phone number in Windows Live.

The Hotmail user can then log into Hotmail using the Windows Live ID or the Hotmail username and password that were selected during setup of the email service. The Hotmail username is usually the Hotmail email address.

The website contains an option to restore the Hotmail password if it cannot be entered correctly. There are two options to reset the password. The first is to use location information and the secret answer to the question to reset the password, the second to send password reset instructions to email. The second option obviously makes only sense if the email account can still be accessed.

Microsoft has created a help file that tries to help Hotmail users who cannot sign in to the service:

If you can’t sign in to a website or service with your Windows Live ID (The e-mail address and password that you use to sign in to Windows Live programs and services such as Windows Live Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger; Microsoft services such as Xbox LIVE, MSN, and Office Live; and anywhere else that you see the Windows Live ID logo.) , try the following:

* Make sure that you typed your password correctly. Passwords are case sensitive (Capable of distinguishing between uppercase [capital] and lowercase [small] letters. For example, A is different from a. If information is case sensitive, it must be typed with the required capitalization.) . If you’ve forgotten your password, try to reset it. For more information, see Reset your password.
* Make sure that your Caps Lock isn’t on.
* Make sure that the correct domain (A group of computers and devices on a network that are administered with common rules and procedures. The domain name is the part of your e-mail address after the @ sign, such as hotmail.com.) name is typed in the Windows Live ID box.
* Check that the Windows Live network isn’t temporarily out of service.
* Check that the website or service that you want to sign in to has the Windows Live symbol.

There are two options for users who want to avoid login difficulties in the future. The first option is to configure Hotmail in a desktop email software. Those usually work even if the Hotmail website is temporarily not accessible. The other option is to use a password manager like Last Pass which can remember the username and password and log in the user automatically whenever the Hotmail page is opened.