Password

How to fully mask password input on the iPhone

Jeff Benjamin ∙ July 8, 2014

Have you ever typed a password in iOS and wondered to yourself why Apple doesn't mask the last character completely? The reason that Apple doesn't fully mask the password as you type probably has to do with being able to verify that you entered the correct password.

Some may argue that such a feature is counter to staying secure as you enter your password. It's easy to see why some people may feel that way.

Enter Fully Masked Passwords—a new jailbreak tweak that applies a full mask to every character entered in a password field. Check out our video after the break to see it in action.

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1Password for Mac updated with Watchtower support

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

Following the update to the iOS app this week, AgileBits has posted a new version of 1Password for Mac, bringing the password manager to version 4.4. The update includes just a handful of improvements, but is notable because it adds Watchtower integration.

For those unfamiliar with it, 1Password Watchtower is a service that identifies websites that are vulnerable to known security risks, and suggest that you change your passwords. It's fairly new, emerging after last-month's 'Heartbleed' bug infected several websites...

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Password-management firm names Apple most secure out of top 100 sites

Cody Lee ∙ January 24, 2014

With high profile hacking incidents making headlines now on what seems like a weekly basis, people are starting to think more about their online security. And one of the first questions they tend to ask is: how safe is my password at [insert name] website?

Password-management company Dashlane just released a report that may help answer this question for many users. The firm has conducted a comprehensive study of the top 100 e-commerce websites, based on 24 criteria, and here's what they found out...

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iTouchSecure: an amazing Touch ID security app for autofilling passwords

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

After a few days of intense testing, I can now recommend iTouchSecure for iOS. iTouchSecure is a recently released jailbreak tweak that allows you to autofill every password in any app using Touch ID. It's what we all imagined Touch ID evolving into after Apple had some time to perfect the technology. But you don't have to wait for the evolution. All you need is a jailbroken iPhone 5s and 5 bucks.

iTouchSecure is one of those jailbreak tweaks that convinces people on the fence that they need to jailbreak. It can speed up your workflow when using apps that require you to enter a password, and it's about as secure as one could hope a tweak like this to be.

The iPhone 5s' Touch ID sensor is pretty remarkable in itself, but when combined with a tweak like iTouchSecure, it goes from remarkable to downright amazing. We've got a full video walkthrough showcasing iTouchSecure's features inside. Have a look and see why this must have jailbreak tweak should be installed on your iPhone 5s.

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New ‘Knock’ app allows you to unlock your Mac with your iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 13, 2018

With the iPhone 5s, Apple made security more convenient by allowing users to unlock their devices with a quick tap of its Touch ID Home button. It's kind of like having a password, without having to type it in every time.

And that's essentially what Knock, a new iOS app by Knock Software, does for the Mac. It allows you to keep your computer secure, without having to type in a password every time. Simply give your iPhone a knock to unlock...

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Create passcode free intervals with PasswordTime

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

PasswordTime is a jailbreak tweak that let's you disable the passcode on your device during specific user defined time intervals. In theory, this could allow you to disable the passcode at 6 PM, the time when you arrive home from work. It could then be set to reenable the passcode before you leave the next day.

It's not a fail safe method of security, but if you're looking for something to add a little bit of convenience to your device, while still maintaining a passcode, then PasswordTime is worth your attention.

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1Password 4 now available in the Mac App Store

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

The fine folks over at AgileBits have outdone themselves with the latest update to their awesome password management application. 1Password 4, a release countless months in the making, is now officially available for purchase in the Mac App Store. To celebrate, the team behind it is offering it at $39.99 — a 20% discount.

I've been a 1Password user for a littler over a year now, and I have to tell you, it's the best thing since sliced bread. To be honest, I wasn't much a believer at first. I used another password management tool called LastPass, and that seemed to work fine for me.

That was until I gave 1Password a real shot. Since then, I haven't looked back. There are just so many different facets of this application that make it the gold standard as far as password management apps are concerned. And 1Password 4 has so many subtle upgrades and painstaking attention to detail, that I feel comfortable labeling it the best password management app of all time.

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Apple removes iCloud Keychain from iOS 7 GM, here’s why

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Yesterday, Apple seeded its registered iOS developers with a so-called Gold Master version of iOS 7, which is essentially the same version owners of iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices will be getting come September 18.

Unfortunately, it seems the company has quietly pulled the useful iCloud Keychain feature from the GM build. The company did not provide an explanation as to why exactly the feature got yanked.

For what it's worth, it's entirely possible the company leadership didn't feel confident enough to declare iCloud Keychain ready for prime time. We have another theory...

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Quickly enable the Passcode on your device with TapTapPass

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

By default, it takes you at least 6 steps to enable your device's Passcode from your Home screen. You have to launch the Settings app, navigate through a couple of screens to the Passcode Lock window, and set it up.

While this process is just fine for folks who keep their iOS devices Passcode-protected at all times, it's fairly tedious for those that only enable the security feature every once in a while. Luckily, there's TapTapPass...

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Apple fixes iForgot security hole that compromised Apple ID passwords

Cody Lee ∙ March 23, 2013

That was fast. Earlier today, Christian told you that a major security hole had been discovered involving Apple's iForgot page that allowed someone to reset your Apple ID password with just your birthdate and email address.

Unsurprisingly, Apple immediately took the password page down after getting word of the vulnerability. And after just a few hours of 'maintenance,' the page is back up and—we're happy to report—once again safe to use...

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How to stop Google Chrome’s annoying keychain access request messages

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

Have you ever had Google Chrome on OS X present a pop up message that states: Google Chrome wants to use your confidential information stored in the...blah, blah, blah...in your keychain?

Even if you select Always Allow, Deny, or Allow, the message continues to pop up each time you visit specific sites. I tried disabling password syncing in Chrome's settings, clearing all saved passwords, etc., all to no avail. Basically, I got to the point where If I saw that message one more time, I was going to rip my hair out!

But I solved the issue, and it was actually easier, and more obvious than I expected. If you're having the same problem, which apparently many Chrome users on the Mac are, then take a look inside for the fix...

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