Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson on keeping your iPhone passwords safe
CyberGuy explains how to make safe and secure passwords on your iPhone.
Have you ever imagined what would happen if one of your accounts got hacked? I know, it's a scary thought. Luckily, Apple's iCloud Keychain is here to save the day. Look, we all understand the simplicity and ease of using the same password across your digital accounts. It's an all too irresistible hack that helps streamline your access to the dozens and dozens of accounts across your digital footprint.
Unfortunately, decisions like this make you a hacker's best friend. Your password may be exposed if one account suffers a data leak or any other security breach. That's bad enough. Yet if all your accounts share the same password or a minor variation of the same password, your digital identities can fall like dominos, one after the other.
Conversely, if your passwords are too complicated or challenging to remember, it can be frustrating to get locked out of online accounts. Going through the tedious process of resetting your password each time you want to log into any of your digital profiles can be a pain and, at times, not even possible, leaving you locked out of your account for good. It's sort of a lose/lose situation.
Fortunately, the folks at Apple have thought of almost everything. From setting up your iCloud password keychain to checking for breached passwords, we got you covered.
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Screenshot of the screen that allows you to sync your iPhone. ( )
What is the iCloud Keychain?
The iCloud Keychain is an excellent tool that stores your app and website passwords on your iPhone. Even more impressive is that it scans known password leaks to warn you if any of your saved passwords have been compromised. If you receive an alert from Apple, it's time to take action and secure your accounts before the situation worsens.
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An iCloud Keychain is an app that saves your passwords on your iPhone. ( )
How to save your password to the iCloud Keychain
First, to save your password from any website onto your iCloud Keychain, log in and enter your password. Your iPhone will then automatically ask if you want to save the password to the Keychain. It's that simple.
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Screenshot instructions on how to save passwords on the iCloud Keychain. ( )
Did you accidentally hit "No" when your iPhone asked if you wanted to save your password to the iCloud Keychain?
No worries, you can save it later by going to your Settings
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Screenshot of how access the Settings app. ( )
Tap on Passwords
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Screenshot instructions on how to select "Passwords." (CyberGuy.com)
Then select "+" sign
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Screenshot instructions showing you how to select the plus sign to add info. ( )
Now, you can add a website, username and password for the Keychain to remember enabling you to quickly access your accounts from any of your Apple devices.
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Screenshot instructions of how to add a website, username, and password. ( )
How to address iPhone's warning and check for compromised passwords
If you want to check for compromised passwords on your iPhone, here's what you need to do:
- Go to your Settings
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Screenshot of how access the Settings app. ( )
- Then tap on Passwords
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Screenshot instructions on how to select "Passwords." ( )
- Select Security Recommendations
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Screenshot instructions on how to select the Security Recommendations page. ( )
- If you get a message saying one of your passwords has been compromised, don't freak out. Just tap on the affected account, copy the password, and then go ahead and change it on the website or app.
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Screenshot instructions on how to change the password or website. ( )
- If you need help creating a strong password, don't worry. Your iPhone can do it for you automatically! Plus, you don't have to remember it.
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How to generate a strong password
When making a new account, simply select the option "Use Strong Password" to generate a strong passcode that will be nearly impossible to guess. However, it will be just as impossible to remember; luckily, all of that information is stored in the iCloud Keychain for you.
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Screenshot instructions on how to generate a strong password. ( )
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Other ways to securely access your passwords
The key to a good password manager is how easy it is to use. You need something that's user-friendly and accessible, or you're not going to use it consistently. iCloud Keychain is great for remembering passwords on web pages and auto-filling them when you revisit the site, yet it's not so great if you need to access non-web logins.
That's where third-party password managers come in. They fill the gap that iCloud Keychain can't, with seamless sync, cross-platform availability, and encryption to protect your data. If you need to sync more than just passwords and credit cards, like app logins, identities and banking credentials, then a third-party password manager is the way to go.
What qualities should I look for in a password manager?
When it comes to choosing the best password manager for you, here are some of my top tips.
- Deploys secure
- Works seamlessly across all of your devices
- Creates unique complicated passwords that are different for every account
- Automatically populates login and password fields for apps and sites you revisit
- Has a browser extension for all browsers you use to automatically insert passwords for you
- Allows a failsafe in case the primary password is ever lost or forgotten
- Checks that your existing passwords remain safe and alerts you if ever compromised
- Uses two-factor authentication security
Check out my best expert-reviewed password managers of 2023 by heading to CyberGuy.com/Passwords
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Kurt's key takeaways
Taking advantage of the features provided by iCloud Keychain can significantly enhance your online security and save you from potential headaches caused by compromised passwords. By using this tool, you can simplify the process of managing and securing your passwords across all your devices. So, take a few moments to set up iCloud Keychain, and you can rest assured knowing that your online identities are well-protected.
Should we have to work this hard to protect our passwords? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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