Monthly Mini-Bytes - May 2023

 

Do You Need a Password Manager? I want to break this conversation up between business and personal use. There is a strong case for the use of password managers in a business situation where multiple people need to access certain accounts. There is audit-ability and a good professional grade password manager can do a lot to save time and actually boost security. But if it is just you and only you and your stuff, then it is a totally different picture. First realize that you already have a password manager. It is you. Look in the mirror. There is your password manager. That password manager needs to have a system first and foremost before considering any third party solution. Whether it is a spreadsheet, notebook, or whatever, you need to have a system to record and save your passwords. Once that is complete and you have a good system, you can begin to consider a third-party password manager to use in parallel to your system. It has to be in parallel in the case you lose access to the password manager account. But there are some very important things to consider. By saving all of your passwords with one business, you are giving them all the keys to your entire online life. Do you trust them? They may wax poetic about security and encryption, but at the end of the day you are trusting them, their employees, and whoever eventually buys that company with all of your passwords. Needless to say we are not big fans of third-party password managers for individuals. There have been breaches and it seems just too risky. iCloud Keychain, which is built in to the macOS ecosystem, shares your passwords between your devices. It is secured behind your iCloud, but even with this we don't recommend saving bank, investment, or any other similar passwords. There is no easy way to deal with passwords. You just have to cope with them and have a good system that works for you. The easier it is for you the easier it is for the bad guys to get in to your accounts. Passwords are frustrating and just something modern technology users have to accept.

Tips for Using Maps and GPS It's summer, which means it's travel season, and maps and GPS will be used liberally over the next several months so we can all get to our destinations, But there are important things to keep in mind when using your GPS or maps to navigate. 1.) Trust But Verify - When choosing your destination don't trust the app to be correct. Cross reference by using something different. For example you can look up the address in Apple Maps and then compare in Google Maps. The data is only as good as the people programming it and mistakes are made. You can also call the destination to confirm their address, directions, and any nearby landmarks. 2.) Know Your Route - After picking your destination, don't just set out on your way. Look at the route. Oftentimes the one chosen for you may not be the best, can lead you down some iffy roads, or may be more stressful. Understanding where you are going is imperative. There are horror stories about people ending up stuck down dirt roads because they just followed the GPS directions. Be an active participant in your route planning. 3.) Go Analog - When traveling you absolutely must have a paper map or atlas. They don't need batteries, always work, and are an excellent backup to cross-verify your app or GPS unit.

Possible 15-Inch M2 MacBook Air

The MacBook Air used to be Apple's entry-level computer, but with the M2 chip and the total redesign it is far from entry-level in performance. In fact the M2 MacBook Air is incredibly powerful and enough computer for most normal users, and can even handle light video-editing and graphics. The big news is that Apple may be announcing a 15-Inch version, which would be fantastic. The larger screen at a lower price-point then the 16-Inch MacBook Pro would be a great option for those looking for something with more real estate. The announcement, if it does happen, will be at the World Wide Developers Conference on June 5th