Guest speaker Ken Spencer on Passwords and Security
Ken Spencer, President of MacNexus Apple Group
- Use 2-factor authentication when prompted
- Passwords - major headache & stumbling block
- Convenient vs Secure passwords - what can we remember
- iCloud for secure passwords synced for all Apple devices = iCloud Keychain
- Passwords are KEYS to individual websites or accounts
Do not go into Keychain to edit password - go to the website to update pw then Keychain will prompt to save updated password.
Best Practice: After updating password > log out of the website > log in to the website and enter new pw. Success? Now you know it worked and saved to iCloud Keychain.
Biometerics - fingerprint ID or face ID - for fill-in password = pw are ultra secure.
Passwords - 8 characters, 1 upper/lower case, repeated letter/number 2X; number. Use 8-10 characters. Words not found in a dictionary.
Don’t use the same pw everywhere. Email address is often username to accounts. PW for email should not be used anywhere else.
Ken’s SmashWords plan has a personal word-stem with a three-letter prefix for each account. For example:
sacto1
Xxxsacto1
American Airlines > Amesacto1
Amazon = Amasacto1
Netflix = Netsacto1
Wells Fargo = Welsacto1! << special character on financial & email
Use same special character on all accounts ! or $ or #
As you begin accessing accounts > then change pw with a new protocol. Apple iCloud Keychain will propose secure passwords. Use suggested or use a modified version of Ken's SmashWords example.
Don’t write down pw. If you do, underline the capital letter and indicate date changed.
Password = alphanumeric combination with 8 or more characters
Passcode = numeric sequence to unlock your device
Notes app can lock a Note page with a pw. Unlock using device biometrics passcode (finger or face)
- Note can be locked on iPad/iPhone. Lock a Note then can see prompt to unlock when viewing from web browser at https://icloud.com (Good for Windows computer users.)
Practice locking a new Note page (link to online User Guide):
Open Notes app - new note page to keep pw “Here are my passwords” [ is the top line in the new Note ]
Password! [ or some text is the second line in the new Note ]
(…) > Lock Note [ look for a button ( ... ) in the top right of the screen ]
Use same passcode as used to unlock device
iCloud for Windows? Go to https://icloud.com > log in with your Apple ID > open Notes > look on the list of Notes for a paddlelock icon > click that Note and type passcode at prompt.
iPad uses 4-6 digits to unlock as PASSCODE or fingerprint ID / face ID
Settings > Touch ID and Passcode > Change Passcode > now 6 digits > Passcode options > … screenshot
Fingerprint ID - can be same finger several times - touch in this view of Settings to see highlight - doing this gives fingerprint sensor new scans to add more info to the biometrics. Hopefully, this will help your iPad unlock from your fingerprint more often.
3rd Party Password apps or services available to keep and use passwords. Ken uses iCloud Keychain.
Settings > iCloud accounts > Notes ON
Settings > Notes > default account iCloud
Turn off “On my iPad” - but make sure you have moved Notes stored there to iCloud.
Passwords are stored on iPad and sent as encrypted info to iCloud then also sent to other Apple devices as encrypted info.
Practice
Siri > “Show me my Allstate password”
Settings > Passwords > Allstate
Settings > Safari > General > Auto Fill for websites and credit cards
Name the card the Card - ExpDate
If prompted for Apple ID password - be sure your device is on the Internet. Wait a minute or so. You will be prompted as
iPad > open Safari > Address Bar > help.apple.com /ipad > tap Go button
iPad User Guide opens up
Share button > Add to Home Screen > edit to make name short name > tap Add button
Ken's Links posted to chat
iPad User Guide https://help.apple.com/ipad
Apple Support YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYFQ33UIPERYx8-ZHucZbDA
How to write on your iPad with your Apple Pencil — Apple Support
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SmOTZyEETE
How to create handwritten notes with iPad and Apple Pencil — Apple Support
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnln8A0R5go
How to use AirDrop on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch — Apple Support
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVLdVmUiqqU
MacNexus YouTube - past meeting Zoom recordings
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz0PGOt2xS1go2Z4DY1FXmA
Lincoln Hills Apple User Group YouTube - past meeting recordings
https://www.lhaug.org/2019-video-spreadsheet
How to use your iPad as a second display for your Mac with Sidecar — Apple Support
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MKy0zz_7gY
How to navigate your iPad with a trackpad — Apple Support
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78m5qtJI5Nk
Use iPad in landscape and portrait mode
In Edit Screen Mode with wiggling icons, drag app to Dock
Five finger pinch from open app to return to Home Screen
Safari > bookmarks icon Bookmarks | Reading List | History
Reading List for temporary bookmarks is time based
Share button > Add to Reading List
Freezing Your Credit for added security
existing companies will continue to have pathway as needed
creditkarma.com to register and see how to improve or to monitor (also creditsesame)
mint.com screen scrapes on listed accounts since created; monitor and use in taxes; zillow price of home - FREE - create account on computer then download the iPad/iPhone - shows transactions from accounts listed and balance not account
clark.com - search for how-wto credit freeze at all three agencies
https://clark.com/credit/credit-freeze-and-thaw-guide/
Group Email - with all accounts listed - (hacked) “compromised” address book
Send email to multiple people > addresses in BCC field = good etiquette
keep emails short - respect other people’s time > get to the point in top 3 lines
When I die - how do I prepare info for survivors
- Add a Power of Attorney for Digital Assets
- New gmail account and sent important documents to new account
- Can update documents as needed
- Printed page with email address and account pw - in envelope for survivors
- After all accounts closed do survivors need to notify about death
- Credit cards will expire - might need to redeem points before expire
Location & Safety - OK to let app know location because cellphones ping towers anyway.
Chrome Browser - slows down your Mac computer
http://chromeisbad.com
Google Chrome to read email - using browser on PC to read email is better than on Mac computer.