THERE’S one iPhone warning you should never ignore: compromised passwords.
It appears if one of your passwords has turned up in a leak – and it’s extremely serious.
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If you don’t act quickly, one or more of your accounts could be broken into.
This could lead to a chain reaction that allows hackers to take over even more of your accounts.
It’s a dangerous situation that is easily fixed if you take action when you see the alert.
The warning works if you use Apple’s iCloud Keychain to store your passwords for apps and websites on iPhone.
Apple scans known password leaks to warn you if one of your saved passwords has been compromised.
“When you create and store your own passwords for websites and apps, iPhone automatically identifies common weaknesses (for example, if they’re easily guessed or used multiple times),” Apple explained.
“iPhone can also securely monitor your passwords and alert you if they appear in known data leaks.”
To find compromised passwords, go to Settings > Passwords > Security Recommendations.
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If you have a compromised password, you’ll see a message explaining your problem.
Choose an affected account then tap on the Password field.
Then Apple recommends tapping Copy Password so you can paste it where it’s requested – for instance, when you’re creating a new password.
Now tap Change Password and edit your password on the website or in the app.
There are several safer options than creating your own password that are worth considering.
“If the website or app allows you to upgrade to Sign in with Apple, you can take advantage of the security and convenience of that feature,” Apple said.
“If you aren’t given the upgrade option when you change your password, many accounts allow iPhone to automatically create a strong password that you don’t have to remember.”
A compromised password can be very dangerous.
Even if you have a strong and unique login, it can still turn up in leaks.
Changing it quickly can lock hackers out.
If you leave it, hackers could break in and wreak havoc on your digital life.
It’s so easy to change a password and can save you from serious cyber-trouble.
Remember that this feature only works for passwords that you have saved to your iCloud Keychain.
Featured Image Credit: Apple / Unsplash / The Sun
