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Thoughtful, detailed coverage of everything Apple for 36 years
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Tag: Apple Account

Adam Engst 27 comments

Compromised Apple Gift Card Saga Ends Well, but Risks Remain

Paris Buttfield-Addison has regained access to his Apple Account after a tainted gift card locked him out. But his saga highlights serious risks associated with Apple Gift Cards that should make everyone think twice before giving or redeeming them.

Adam Engst 27 comments

Compromised Apple Gift Card Leads to Apple Account Lockout

After trying to redeem an Apple Gift Card, Apple developer and author Paris Buttfield-Addison was locked out of his Apple Account with no explanation. Despite extensive media coverage and contact from Apple’s Executive Relations, his account remains locked days later, raising concerning questions about what happens to users without high-profile connections—and whether Apple Gift Cards are safe.

Adam Engst 25 comments

You Can Now Migrate Purchases Between Your Apple Accounts

No, it’s not April Fools’ Day. After decades of requests, Apple has finally introduced a feature allowing users to migrate purchased apps, music, and other content between their Apple accounts.

Adam Engst 33 comments

Apple ID to Be Renamed to Apple Account, Disrupting Independent Documentation

Starting later this year, Apple will replace all instances of “Apple ID” in its operating systems and documentation with “Apple Account.” Documentation that covers multiple versions of Apple operating systems will become more awkward.

Adam Engst 7 comments

Beware of Attacks Using Password Reset Request Notifications

Brian Krebs covers an attack that exploits a vulnerability in the Apple ID password reset process to deluge users with requests to reset the password. Consider yourself forewarned.

Adam Engst 75 comments

How a Passcode Thief Can Lock You Out of Your iCloud Account, Possibly Permanently

A follow-up to the Wall Street Journal’s investigation into Apple’s problematic iPhone security design reveals that victims are being locked out of their iCloud accounts.

Adam Engst 45 comments

How a Thief with Your iPhone Passcode Can Ruin Your Digital Life

The Wall Street Journal reports on a spate of attacks in which iPhone thieves obtain your passcode and then change your Apple ID password, disable Find My, make purchases with Apple Pay, and more. Some attacks are as simple as the miscreants surreptitiously watching you enter your passcode; others involve violence. Read on to learn how to protect yourself.

Adam Engst 8 comments

How to Request Access to a Deceased Family Member’s Apple Accounts

In the unfortunate event that a family member dies without sharing passwords or other Apple account information, there’s still a way to get Apple to provide access. Read on for details.

Josh Centers 1 comment

What It’s Like to Be Banished from Apple’s Garden

Can you imagine what life would be like if Apple locked you out of your Apple ID? Unfortunately, it can happen through no fault of your own and may not be easy to fix.

Josh Centers 10 comments

Three Ways to Reset a Lost Admin Password in High Sierra

Have you forgotten your Mac’s admin password, or need to help a friend or client who has lost it? Here’s how to reset it, but beware that doing so prevents access to the account keychain’s collection of login credentials.

Alicia Katz Pollock 7 comments

Five Ways to Reset a Lost Administrator Password

Recovering a user’s forgotten password used to require special tools or creative administrative management. It’s fairly easy in recent versions of Mac OS X, but many of us still have or need to help people with older operating systems. Here are all the different ways to get back into a Mac if you’re locked out, no matter what version of Mac OS X it’s running.