The Micro-Byte - February 2026

 

eMail Security: Why It Matters

Your three most important passwords are your iPhone unlock code, the login password for your Mac, and your email password. Why? If any one of these gets compromised a bad actor has the keys to your entire life. Even if you take the time to have secure passwords at your bank and other financial institutions, a weak email password opens a back door to resetting all of these. And if you've had the same email password for years, chances are it's already in the dark web as part of a data breach. Your email is the key to your accounts. It's the way you verify your identity, communicate with customers, and interact with friends and family. Someone getting access means that they can impersonate you and do everything from filing fake tax returns, opening new bank accounts, redirecting business payments, and even compromising personal relationships. The good news is that staying secure isn't all that difficult. Here is what you need to do: Create a Secure Password - If you are using Apple's Passwords app then it's easy to create and store complex passwords. If you can remember your email password, it's not secure. If you haven't changed it in five years, it's not secure either. Use Multi-Factor Authentication - This could be via a text message or through an authenticator app. Change It Every So Often - You shouldn't go years without changing up this most secure password. Apple's Passwords will show you when the password was changed, so it's easy to keep track. That's why we like Apple's Passwords app so much. For Businesses: Use Delegates and Groups - Only the designated user should have the account password for any individual email at a business. If an account requires multiple people to access it, there is the option to setup Groups or Delegates. This keeps the account secure, and provides an audit trail for who is accessing what and when. Securing your email isn't automatic. It takes some work, but if done, the peace of mind that it will give you with regard to your personal security is definitely worth the effort.

Monthly Mini-Bytes - February 2026

 

Security Alert: Beware of QR Codes If we all don't have enough to worry about it's disturbing to know that the crooks are using QR codes to come at you, your data, and your money. QR codes are everywhere. They are on parking meters, in instruction manuals, at restaurants linking to menus, and on ads galore. I've even seen them on gas pumps. As useful as they are, the bad guys use fake ones to link you to bogus websites or apps. The parking meter scam is a big one. Criminals post fake QR stickers on parking meters. You scan to park, pay, and then they take your money. What's worse is that you also get a parking ticket, because you didn't pay the right person. There are even sophisticated "Fancy QR Codes" that are imbedded in images. You can't tell they are QR codes, but your phone can and then the potential phishing begins. Telling a legitimate QR code from one that is a scam is all but impossible, unless you interact with the code itself. And that's risky to say the least. The best thing that you can do is be wary of QR codes out in the wild -- especially ones that ask for payment or a bunch of personal information. Downloading a menu at a restaurant is one thing, but paying for fake parking and having your credit card compromised is another. Scan safely.

Protect Digital Accounts During Tax Season

It's getting to be that time of year where we pull together our tax forms in preparation for filing. All of this personal information is a gold mine to scammers. Keeping your data safe is paramount, so here are some best practices to keep in mind: Passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication Make sure that you have good and secure passwords at all your financial accounts, including robust multi-factor authentication. Use whatever enhanced security they have. Beware of Uploads When uploading documents electronically, make sure you are doing it through a secure portal. Your bookkeeper or accountant should have a safe and encrypted way to get files back and forth. Be very careful with them, as all of these tax documents have the bulk of your personal info that criminals crave. Secure Hard Copies If you have hard copies of these documents, just don't let them lay around your house. Secure them in a safe or some other location with controlled access.

Apple Creator Studio: Do You Need It?

No. Most people don't need a subscription to this service. Pages, Numbers, and Keynote are still free and shall remain free for Apple computers. Apple Creator Studio bundles all of their premium apps like Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Logic Pro into an Adobe Creative Suite type product. So, if you need those apps, it's a way to avoid a one time purchase fee ... and instead just pay one time every month. To learn about Apple Creator Studio visit: https://creatorstudio.apple.com/