• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechCybersecurity

John McAfee Wants to Make Passwords Obsolete

By
Heather Clancy
Heather Clancy
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Heather Clancy
Heather Clancy
Down Arrow Button Icon
December 29, 2015, 4:43 PM ET
Courtesy of Everykey

John McAfee, the co-founder of early computer security software maker McAfee, has done more than most with his life. He’s been a pioneer in antivirus software, a third-party presidential candidate, and, briefly, a fugitive from the law after his neighbor was murdered in Belize.

Now, McAfee wants you (and me) to fund his current project: Manufacturing a small device that “unlocks” everything from your smartphone to your front door. He is hawking the gadget, called Everykey, as part of an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign through Jan. 10.

“This is a f***ing game changer,” McAfee declared using his usual bravado in a company press release.

The campaign has already raised more than $57,000, almost triple its $20,000 goal. In an earlier campaign on Kickstarter last year, Everykey raised nearly $120,000. (That was before McAfee became chief evangelist for Everykey earlier this year.)

SIGN UP: Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s daily newsletter about the business of technology.

The technology comes in two forms: one that resembles a USB thumb drive and another that looks like a digital fitness band. Both versions store passwords using military-grade software encryption, meaning that the data is especially tough to decipher, according to Everykey’s Web site.

When you place Everykey near a properly configured laptop, smartphone, or tablet computer, it automatically unlocks the device using a Bluetooth wireless connection. Move it out of range (about nine feet), and the device will lock down again so that no one unauthorized can use it.

Everykey works with Web site accounts and doors that are outfitted with wireless access control technology—including those in your house or your car. What happens if you lose Everykey? It can be “frozen” remotely, so no one else can use it.

WATCH: Everykey in action.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFNRkd1g-kg&w=560&h=315]

The Cleveland company was born in 2012, when engineering and computer science student Chris Wentz took an entrepreneurship class at Case Western Research University. The professor of the class was so intrigued, he became an early investor when Wentz founded a startup based on his class project.

“Instead of carrying a bulky keychain and remembering a list of passwords, we want your access control to be something you don’t have to think about,” Wentz said.

Everykey intends to deliver its device to Indiegogo backers in March 2016.

 

 

About the Author
By Heather Clancy
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.


Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Big Tech
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative cut 70 jobs as the Meta CEO’s philanthropy goes all in on mission to 'cure or prevent all disease'
By Sydney LakeFebruary 1, 2026
24 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
'I just don't have a good feeling about this': Top economist Claudia Sahm says the economy quietly shifted and everyone's now looking at the wrong alarm
By Eleanor PringleJanuary 31, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
U.S. Olympic gold medalist went from $200,000-a-year sponsorship at 20 years old to $12-an-hour internship by 30
By Orianna Rosa RoyleFebruary 1, 2026
19 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Future of Work
Ford CEO has 5,000 open mechanic jobs with up to 6-figure salaries from the shortage of manually skilled workers: 'We are in trouble in our country'
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJanuary 31, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Ryan Serhant starts work at 4:30 a.m.—he says most people don’t achieve their dreams because ‘what they really want is just to be lazy’
By Preston ForeJanuary 31, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Energy
Top energy expert says probability the U.S. will attack Iran soon is 75% as risk of major disruption to oil supply is priced in — 'this one is real'
By Jason MaFebruary 1, 2026
13 hours ago

Latest in Tech

NewslettersFortune Tech
Start your engines: OpenAI and Anthropic race to IPO
By Alexei OreskovicFebruary 2, 2026
15 minutes ago
Startups & Ventureaccounting
Goldman Sachs leads $75 million funding round for Fieldguide, an AI-native accounting and audit platform
By Leo SchwartzFebruary 2, 2026
1 hour ago
Economyspace
Singapore launches first space agency, joining a Southeast Asian race to tap a fast-growing space sector
By Angelica AngFebruary 2, 2026
2 hours ago
Startups & Ventureautonomy
Waymo seeking about $16 billion near $110 billion valuation
By Edward Ludlow, Aaron Kirchfeld and BloombergFebruary 1, 2026
11 hours ago
AIspace
SpaceX seeks FCC nod to build data center constellation in space
By Sana Pashankar, Loren Grush and BloombergFebruary 1, 2026
11 hours ago
dewar
CommentaryLeadership
The AI adoption story is haunted by fear as today’s efficiency programs look like tomorrow’s job cuts. Leaders need to win workers’ trust
By Carolyn DewarFebruary 1, 2026
22 hours ago