Microsoft has launched a new security feature for hotmail signin allowing the users to use single use codes for logging into their windows live mail accounts.
This feature is specifically designed to protect the users from password thefts on a public computer or any other computer that they don’t own or are not sure of that they should use their password on it or not such as those found in internet cafes, airports, coffee shops, or even friends or cousins computers! or even your college library, etc
The requested single use code is sent via sms to the phone number associated with your Windows Live ID (hotmail account). This code will work as a substitute for your account password only once and then it will expire. By using this code you won’t need to enter your password on any non-personal computer, hence helping you from being hacked or getting your account password recorded / stolen by some one using key loggers or any other method.
Microsoft says about it:
This new security feature is designed to further protect you when you sign in from a public computer, such as those found in internet cafés, airports, and coffee shops. When you request a single-use code, the code is sent via SMS to the phone number associated with your Windows Live ID. It acts as a one-time substitute for your password. By using a single-use code, you won’t have to type your password into a public computer, thereby helping to prevent it from being stolen by key loggers and the like.
This is really a great feature and will probably prevent many script kiddie (wanna be hackers) hack attempts and affecting many people, making them lose their account, or else get their account illegally accessed!