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It's World Password Day, people!

It's World Password Day, people!

How to fix your old, bad, awful passwords.

Leander Kahney
May 02, 2024

Today is World Password Day: a totally made-up day where you’re supposed to fix your passwords.

If you’re like me, you probably have a trusty default password that you’ve used forever, especially for low-risk websites and apps that you could care less if they get hacked or not.

I regularly receive notices that this password has appeared in a data leak and I should change it.

Which I ignore!

It’s a lazy strategy — and an outdated one, now that iCloud Keychain and every other password manager automatically remembers passwords, even the most complicated ones.

Trouble is, I’m now faced with the task of fixing dozens — perhaps hundreds — of hacked logins that all use my crappy old default password.

It’s a daunting task, but one that’s made incredibly easy by iCloud Keychain. If you can manage it, today’s a good day to open iCloud Keychain and clean up your weak, stolen and reused passwords. Here’s how.

Also in today’s newsletter:

For the first time, the Apple Watch is officially a bone fide, FDA-sanctioned medical device that’s accurate enough to be used in scientific studies. This is a big deal, and another step into making your wearable a life-saving device.
That’s today’s good news about Apple Watch. The bad news is the Ultra may not be getting a big hardware upgrade this year, or any upgrade at all.
Bose’s little speakers always sound great to me — so I want this beefy Bose Bluetooth speaker real bad.
Apple is reporting quarterly results this afternoon. It’s not likely to be good, but there may be hints about AI.
This unique MagSafe battery pack stand ensures you always have an iPhone battery pack charged and ready to go. And it’s a whopping 60% off.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

Use your iPhone to find and change passwords that hackers stole

World Password Day is a good opportunity to change passwords that hackers stole because of some company's lax security.

Stop using these stupid, stupid passwords immediately

If any of your accounts is secured with one of these horrible passwords, take World Password Day as an excuse to change it.

Expect dismal iPhone sales but hints of AI in Apple quarterly results

Apple likely will announce a drop in quarterly revenue this week, but company executives undoubtedly will talk up AI plans.

^{A message from Cult of Mac Store}

iPhone charger with built-in battery pack looks totally sci-fi

This unique MagSafe battery pack stand ensures you always have an iPhone battery pack charged and ready to go.

Apple cuts cost of 2024 MLS Season Pass by 30%

Soccer fans can now grab an MLS Season Pass for 30% less than what Apple typically charges.

Google paid Apple whopping $20 billion to remain default iPhone search engine

Court documents confirm that Apple received $20 billion from Google in 2022 for making it the default search engine on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

^{A message from Cult of Mac deals team}

Amazon matches record-low prices on coveted Apple gear

With low prices on Apple gear Amazon kicked off Tuesday, you can get AirPods Pro 2, Apple Pencil 2, Studio Display, Apple Watch and more.

iPhone alarm on Challengers soundtrack drives people nuts

Reviews for tennis-love-triangle flick "Challengers" are positive, except for an incredibly annoying iPhone alarm left on the soundtrack.

Today in Apple history: Apple's first watch is a freebie for upgraders

On May 2, 1995, Apple launched its first Apple watch -- a giveaway gadget for anyone paying to upgrade to System 7.5 on the Mac.

Tweetz o’ the day

Here's a bingo board for the upcoming Let Loose #AppleEvent
Bookmark this tweet to use during the event!
— Shea (@concept_central)
9:07 PM • May 1, 2024

Apple is pushing their next event like crazy on socials right now 👀
Surely it can’t JUST be iPads right?
— Sam Kohl (@iupdate)
7:46 AM • May 2, 2024

I’m sorry but if you see “air” in this #AppleEvent graphic you’re delusional
— Dylan (@DylanMcD8)
8:54 PM • May 1, 2024

having @UseClear back on Apple Watch has been a game changer, missed it all these years
— Parker Ortolani (@ParkerOrtolani)
6:23 PM • May 1, 2024

If I have to watch something on YouTube, I find myself wanting to use Apple Vision Pro instead of iPhone. My neck hurts when watching video on iPhone. We tend to look down when watching video on iPhone while Vision Pro allows one to lift their head up.
— Neil Cybart (@neilcybart)
5:42 PM • May 1, 2024

To this day this is the most beautiful video made by Apple.
— Ilya Miskov (@ilyamiskov)
10:42 AM • May 2, 2024

One more thing ...

❝

Apple was about as pure of a Silicon Valley company as you could imagine. We started in a garage. Woz and I both grew up in Silicon Valley. Our role model was Hewlett-Packard. And so I guess that's what we went into it thinking. Hewlett-Packard, you know, Jobs and Wozniak.

— Steve Jobs, 1985.

Today’s poll

How disciplined is your password strategy?

Results from yesterday’s poll: What kind of names do you use for your Apple devices?

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