Want to Password-Protect a PDF? Follow These Best Practices

Posted on by Tim Hannon in Macintosh, Passwords, Security/Privacy
If you have a PDF with confidential information that you want to share, you can set a password to restrict opening, printing, or editing. We have instructions for Preview and Adobe Acrobat, plus advice on ensuring your document stays secure.

We periodically field questions about password-protecting a PDF to prevent the wrong people from reading it. Lawyers want to ensure that drafts of legal documents don’t fall into the wrong hands, financial advisers want to keep confidential financial information private, and authors want to prevent their writing from being shared broadly on the Internet. Others don’t worry so much about a document being read but want to ensure that it can’t be changed or printed.

PDF provides options for password-protecting documents for just these reasons, and you can add such protection to your PDFs in both Apple’s Preview and Adobe Acrobat. We’ll explain how to do that, but before we do, we want to share some best practices to increase the likelihood that your PDFs will remain protected as you wish. Read More from “Want to Password-Protect a PDF? Follow These Best Practices”

Keep a USB Keyboard and Mouse for Troubleshooting

Posted on by Tim Hannon in Hardware
The minimalist approach with a wireless keyboard and mouse is good most of the time, but if things go wrong, it can be handy to have a wired USB keyboard and mouse available for troubleshooting.

Steve Jobs famously railed against cable clutter, and it’s now easy to use a desktop Mac with a wireless keyboard and mouse, either from Apple or another manufacturer. That’s fine for regular usage, but Bluetooth keyboards and mice aren’t always sufficient. Batteries wear out, pairing can fail, and wireless interference can cause lags or spurious inputs. Plus, if you need to boot into macOS Recovery, wireless input devices may not work. We recommend keeping an extra USB keyboard and mouse—preferably from Apple, but any brand will work—to use in case you have problems with your wireless versions. If you don’t have a keyboard and mouse left over from an old Mac, a friend or family member may be happy to give you theirs, or you can probably find them for next to nothing at a local reuse store. Read More from “Keep a USB Keyboard and Mouse for Troubleshooting”

Tired of Nonstop Cookie Popups? Dismiss Them Automatically with These Extensions

Posted on by Tim Hannon in Macintosh
If you’re as annoyed as we are by constant cookie consent popups on seemingly every website these days, check out our recommendations for browser extensions that can banish them for good.

The European Union has for many years required that websites—at least those serving European users—gain informed consent before storing the personal data of those users. That data includes cookies, which are bits of information stored in Web browsers that websites can read and write. Cookies are widely used for remembering login information, saving user account information, maintaining a shopping cart, and other legitimate purposes. However, they’re also used to target advertising at you by tracking your behavior across websites, which many people consider to be an abuse of user privacy. Hence the EU’s ePrivacy Directive, which resulted in the proliferation of cookie consent popups like this one. Read More from “Tired of Nonstop Cookie Popups? Dismiss Them Automatically with These Extensions”

Forget Your Just-Changed Passcode? iOS 17’s Passcode Reset Has Your Back

Posted on by Tim Hannon in Security/Privacy
If you change your passcode and can’t remember it (or it was changed for you by a prankster), iOS 17 lets you use your old passcode for 72 hours. It’s a helpful backstop for the results of a memory lapse or mischievous child.

The hardest time to remember your iPhone or iPad passcode is right after you’ve changed it. Generally speaking, there’s no reason to change your passcode, but if you inadvertently or intentionally shared it with someone with whom you wouldn’t trust your bank account information, changing it to something new is a good idea. Read More from “Forget Your Just-Changed Passcode? iOS 17’s Passcode Reset Has Your Back”

Networking Gear Does Wear Out—Suspect It in Internet Slowdowns and Dropouts

Posted on by Tim Hannon in Hardware
If you’re suffering from Internet slowdowns and dropouts, remember that networking gear and cables can get flaky with age, so it’s worth checking your modems, routers, and switches when troubleshooting.

We’ve helped some clients recently with networking problems that seemed to be related to Internet connections. Most notable was intermittently slow Internet performance, causing the client to call their ISP to upgrade to a higher bandwidth connection with guaranteed throughput. But that extra monthly expense turned out to be unnecessary once we tracked the problem to a malfunctioning cable modem. Other problems we’ve seen involved occasional network dropouts (a bad Ethernet switch), flaky Wi-Fi access (a dying AirPort base station), and Internet slowdowns (squirrels gnawing on an outdoor coaxial cable). Read More from “Networking Gear Does Wear Out—Suspect It in Internet Slowdowns and Dropouts”

Faster Copying of Two-Factor Authentication Codes from Messages

Posted on by Tim Hannon in Security/Privacy
Need to enter SMS-initiated two-factor authentication codes manually in Web browsers other than Safari? Try this hidden trick for quickly copying and pasting them instead of retyping all those numbers.

One welcome feature of Safari is its automatic detection and auto-filling of SMS-based two-factor authentication codes you receive in Messages. It allows you to complete your login quickly, without having to retrieve the code from Messages. But what if you use a different Web browser, like Google Chrome, Firefox, Brave, or Arc? Read More from “Faster Copying of Two-Factor Authentication Codes from Messages”

What Should You Do about an Authentication Code You DIDN’T Request?

Posted on by Tim Hannon in Passwords, Security/Privacy
Black woman in a green shirt holding an iPhone looking surprised. Yellow background.

We strongly encourage using two-factor authentication (2FA) or two-step verification (2SV) with online accounts whenever possible. The details vary slightly, but with either one, after you enter your password, you must enter an authentication code to complete the login. Although it’s always best to get such codes from an authentication app like 1Password (which enters codes for you), Authy, or Google Authenticator, many websites still send codes by the less secure SMS text message or email. They’re better than nothing.

But what if you receive a 2FA code that you didn’t request? Read More from “What Should You Do about an Authentication Code You DIDN’T Request?”

Things You Need to Know Before Moving to a New iPhone

Posted on by Tim Hannon in Apple Watch, Backup, iCloud or AppleID
man holds the latest iPhone 14 Pro Max in Space Black. Apple's latest phone is equipped with three cameras. White background.

Are you among the millions of people planning to get a new iPhone? It’s exciting, we know, but don’t move too fast when getting started with your new iPhone, or you might cause yourself headaches. Instead, follow these instructions when you’re ready to transfer your data—and, for many people, much of your digital life—to the new iPhone. Apple also has a series of videos you can watch. Read More from “Things You Need to Know Before Moving to a New iPhone”

Apple Announces iPhone 15 Lineup, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2

Posted on by Tim Hannon in Apple Watch, Hardware, iPhone and iPad, Macintosh
iPhone 15 intro

September is here, and with it, Apple’s latest iPhones and Apple Watches. At its Wonderlust event on September 12, Apple threw back the curtains on the new iPhone 15 lineup, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. These devices all provide incremental improvements that make them attractive to people planning to purchase a new iPhone or Apple Watch, though they may not be irresistible upgrades for those still happy with older models. You can pre-order any of them starting September 15, with delivery and in-store availability on September 22.

Read More from “Apple Announces iPhone 15 Lineup, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2”

Clean Up Your Mac’s Desktop with Sort Options

Posted on by Tim Hannon in macOS (formerly OS X), Software
The bottom half of a laptop computer on a desk with assorted papers and office supplies laying around

When we help someone with their Mac for the first time, we often notice that their desktop is a disaster. Icons are scattered willy-nilly and often piled on top of one another, making it hard to locate anything. For most people, the solution is easy—sort the contents of the desktop. In the Finder, choose View > Show View Options. We recommend choosing Date Modified from the Sort By pop-up menu to put your most recently used files in the upper-right, but other criteria might work better for you. If you have so many icons that they overlap, try reducing the icon size or grid spacing. You could also choose Date Modified from the Stack By pop-up menu to collect icons into stacks by date.

Finder's View Options

(Featured image by iStock.com/Liudmila Chernetska)

Learn to Identify and Eliminate Phishing Notifications

Posted on by Tim Hannon in Security/Privacy, Virus/Malware
Phishing notifications

Have you received odd notification messages in the upper right corner of your Mac’s screen? If so, these could be phishing attacks. Email may be the most common form of phishing, but it’s not the only one. Modern Web browsers support a technology that enables websites to display system-level notifications just like regular apps. These push notifications have good uses, such as letting frequently updated websites inform users of new headlines, changed discussion threads, and more.

Read More from “Learn to Identify and Eliminate Phishing Notifications”

What to Do If You’re a Mac User Who Needs Some Windows Software

Posted on by Tim Hannon in Miscellaneous
iMac Running Windows

For the most part, the days of Mac versus PC are over. Common apps now exist on both platforms, and when they don’t, there are plenty of alternatives in nearly every app category. Plus, many apps either run entirely on the Web in any browser. Large organizations now regularly run “employee choice” programs that allow people to pick the platform where they’re the most comfortable.

Read More from “What to Do If You’re a Mac User Who Needs Some Windows Software”

Avoid Confusion by Setting iPhone Password Autofill to Only One App

Posted on by Tim Hannon in iOS and iPhone/iPad Apps, Software
Password manager conflict

Let’s say you use 1Password (or another third-party password manager) on an iPhone or iPad. When that’s the case, it’s easy to end up in a situation where your device will present passwords from both 1Password and iCloud Keychain, possibly along with another app. That won’t break anything, but as you can see in the screenshot below, dueling password managers can be confusing, particularly if one doesn’t have up-to-date passwords. To make logging in easier, go to Settings > Passwords > Password Options and select just one app in Allow Filling From. For instance, if you’re using 1Password, turn off iCloud Passwords & Keychain and all the other apps.

(Featured image based on an original by iStock.com/Kostiantyn Filichkin)

Need to Mask Nearby Noise? Try Ventura’s Background Sounds

Posted on by Tim Hannon in macOS (formerly OS X), Software
Nature Sounds

Do you have trouble concentrating at work because of a loud office environment? Or do you work at home and want to block out the sounds of kids or appliances? In macOS 13 Ventura, Apple added background sounds you can play to mask what’s going on around you. Go to System Settings > Accessibility > Audio and enable Background Sounds. You can pick a sound, set the volume, and select an option to turn the sound off when your Mac is inactive. Next time you’re mentally stewing over it being too loud to work, try this feature. A pair of AirPods (Pro or Max, in particular) might be helpful, too. If you find background sounds helpful but want more variety, look for websites like A Soft Murmur or apps like Noizio.

(Featured image by iStock.com/Apiwan Borrikonratchata)

Pay Attention to Unsolicited Facebook Password Reset Messages

Posted on by Tim Hannon in Email, Security/Privacy
Access Denied

We’ve seen an uptick in attacks on Facebook accounts that generate email messages like the one below. It’s saying someone is attempting to reset your Facebook password in order to access your account. If you didn’t ask to reset your Facebook password within the past 5 minutes, do not enter the provided code! In fact, do nothing with a message like this, since you can’t easily tell if it’s a legitimate message from Facebook or a phishing attack. As long as your email account hasn’t been compromised, you have nothing to worry about, but consider any such messages as encouragement to have strong, unique passwords for your email account and any social media services. Also, we highly recommend turning on two-factor authentication for these accounts. Of course, if you get a second message saying that your password was reset, immediately secure your account.

(Featured image by iStock.com/Nicholas77)

Make Apple Watch Apps Easier to Find with List View

Posted on by Tim Hannon in Apple Watch, Hardware

With the original version of the Apple Watch, Apple introduced “grid” view, which shows tiny icons for each app in a random circular pattern, making them difficult to find for most people. Happily, at some point, Apple relented and gave us the more sensible list view, which shows all the apps—with their names—sorted alphabetically. If your Apple Watch shows apps in grid view when you press the Digital Crown, fix it by opening the Watch app on your iPhone, tapping App View, and selecting List View. You can also do this on the watch itself in the Settings app.

(Featured image by Adam Engst)

Apple Starts Releasing Rapid Security Responses for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Posted on by Tim Hannon in Security/Privacy
Updating Apple Devices

By now, you’ve probably seen a new form of update for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS: the Rapid Security Response. Early in May, Apple released the first instances of these updates, which the company had promised for iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS 13 Ventura when those operating systems were first announced. Let’s answer some of the questions we’ve been hearing.

Read More from “Apple Starts Releasing Rapid Security Responses for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac”

Apple Is Shutting Down My Photo Stream—Switch to iCloud Photos

Posted on by Tim Hannon in Photo
Dry creek bed

Apple has quietly announced that it is shutting down the My Photo Stream service, the company’s first iCloud-based effort at helping users sync photos between devices. My Photo Stream had numerous limitations but was free and didn’t count against iCloud storage quotas. If you’re still using My Photo Stream, note that photos will stop uploading as of June 26, and all My Photo Stream photos will be removed from iCloud on July 26; they’ll remain on your individual devices. Apple is encouraging all remaining My Photo Stream users to switch to iCloud Photos, which is more capable in every way but might require you to pay for additional iCloud+ storage to hold your photo library. Those who don’t want their photos in the cloud might check out Mylio Photos+. Contact us if you need assistance migrating to iCloud Photos or ensuring all your various photos are backed up securely.

(Featured image by iStock.com/mpiokpee)