Apple has updated their MobileMe News “blog” with a helpful tip for added security, and for when that security necessitates the need for a helpful little reminder.
First up, Apple reminds everyone that even good passwords, left static for too long, grow old and stale.
One simple way to increase the security of your life online is to change your account password periodically.
You can change your MobileMe password via the Account icon, and Apple provides some suggestions for picking good passwords. (Here’s ours — use something long and with lots of numbers and symbols thrown in. Pseudo-random is the best. Use GRC.com to generate it, or use a good password manager (I use 1Password on the Mac, my PC friends recommend RoboForm) to both generate and store lots of logins).
Next up is what to do if you forget your MobileMe password, and it’s fairly standard stuff, involving a secret question:
Should you ever forget your MobileMe password, go to the MobileMe login page at me.com and click the Forgot password link. You’ll be taken to a page and given the option of resetting your password by answering a secret question to establish your identity.
Pro tip: If you’re even a semi-public figure, or just “don’t trust anyone” make up a fake history, with fake maiden names, pet names, etc. or anyone who knows your background can hack your account as easily as they did Salma Hayak’s.
A former pick of the week for me, and one of my most-used Mac and iPhone apps, has just seen the latter, mobile version updated. I had a chance to try out 1Password touch 2.0 [Free - iTunes link], and the new ability to sync Wallet Items, along with an entirely new, very robust way to sync over Wi-Fi, work the way such things ought.
If you loves security, and want the ability to take your super-strong, pseudo-random passwords, as well as credit cards, debit cards, and all that new goodness, with you, give it a try.
Every week a few of us from team TiPb, bloggers and forum crew alike, will bring you our current favorite, funnest, most useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they’re iPhone (or iPod touch) related, they’re fair game.
So who’s on deck this week and what are our picks? Find out after the break!
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I know Dieter hearts 1Password and it’s probably the first thing I load up any time I install — or re-install — a Mac. They’ve got a great FREE iPhone app, but you really need the big desktop brother to get the full functionality, which includes Keychain password filling integrated right into any Mac browser, as well as wallet storage, and a personal favorite — super-strong pseudo-random password generation.
They had a great special on Halloween, but Thanksgiving? Frankly, they’re blowing us away. Anyone who currently has a 1Password license can GIVE away up to 3 FREE licenses to their friends! Those who haven’t got 1Password, or friends with 1Password to give them this awesome gift, can buy a license for 15% off, and still get in on the FREE give away!
Offer’s good until Sunday, November 30th, so if you want it, go grab it.
One of our favorite apps on the Mac — and the iPhone — is on sale for today only:
First, we have partnered with macZOT! to bring you a special deal! This Thursday, Oct 30th, for one day only, 1Password will be available for an incredible 50% off its regular price: 1Password Halloween Special!
The 1Password iPhone App is, of course, free, but the Mac app is usually $39 bucks, so this is almost a full $20 off. Of course, some people will complain it’s not “free” as well, but then these same people typically don’t work for free either, as trying to feed a family doesn’t work for “free”. Support great software and great developers will be here to support us with even more great apps.
Typically among the very first apps I install when I’m setting up a system, flawless password management and syncing make this not only a “just works” but a “must have”. (Plus, their UI and general graphic design work is awesome, and that hooks me every time!)
Get it before the stroke of midnight!
Confession: I use 1Password on the Mac a lot. I just used it to login so I could write this preview. I use it (synced via keychain) to my desktop at home, and I’ve used the various incarnations of the 1Password javascript bookmarklet on the original iPhone 2G. But now they’ve gone native, baby!
Internet security is a a huge concern, and with mobile internet security we ain’t seen nothing yet. Browsers the caliber of MobileSafari make it possible to do our transactions on the go, be it logging into our favorite social network, or doing some emergency banking on the road. But what if we get out of the cab and leave our iPhone behind? If it gets snatched? What if someone else takes possession of the tiny little device with all our precious logins on it?
Read on to find out!
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