Dorchester — Apr 10th 2018

Mick dealt with user confusion over passwords, based on the frustrating experience of helping people in trouble with their computers. He ran through the basic principles of Apple ID password use, referring to his own term “password pairs” meaning the username (often the user’s email address) and password. The Mac User/Admin password is created when setting up the Mac; it should never be forgotten and (if not highly memorable) should be securely recorded; one way or another it controls access to all other passwords. The User/Admin password should not be confused with the Apple ID and paired password. This pair controls access to all Apple ecosystem features: iCloud, iTunes, Apple Store, iBooks etc. Note: purchases from the Apple Store are associated with that Apple ID, and subsequent re-downloads require that ID to be used.

Mick discussed the usernames and passwords associated with the router connection to the ISP, and WiFi connection to the router, including using encryption (by default now WPA-2). The ISP side is normally pre-set by the ISP but router settings can be observed and altered through a web browser. Mick explained the passwords pairs needed for incoming and outgoing email. While these are often set automatically for the very popular ISPs, he advised taking a screenshot or making a note of settings. KeyChain Access stores most of these passwords and Safari can save Website passwords. Mick uses ‘1Password’ which gathers all passwords for access via a single one and can be backed up on DropBox or elsewhere. Georgia recommended ‘Lastpass’. Apps using a single password to access all others can usefully be shared with a partner or ageing parent to enable access in an emergency. Do make sure someone can access your computer’s passwords, especially your CURRENT User/Admin and Apple ID passwords in the event of your demise! Mick explained the extra security that Apple’s ‘two-factor authentication’ provides, and pointed out the risk of needing the access code when out and about and it turning up on the device left at home. You can turn two-factor authentication off in Settings by logging into iCloud on a browser. David M suggested turning on Text Message Forwarding on your iPhone so that the code will appear on all devices including that requesting the code if they are on the same Network.

After the break, John Lemon gave a detailed overview of the latest version of Pages comparing its use as a simple word-processor and for Desk Top Publishing. Responding to the question that had prompted his talk, he showed different ways to flow text round an image and changing the number of columns in document format. Using Pages for DTP each text or picture box is a separate item on the page and can be moved about and adjusted at will. A great feature reintroduced to this version of Pages is the ability to link text boxes so text flows from one to the next; linked text boxes are numbered and their order can be changed. Apple have introduced a larger range of simple shapes e.g. animals, food, transport, and John inserted an image of an owl and showed how to make the text flow round the image rather than its rectangular bounding box. This latest version 4 is now a very comprehensive application and includes many features ‘lost’ in the move from iWork apps to more recent re-coding for both Ma OS & IOS. Euan pointed out the particularly interesting development is exporting a Pages document to ePub format.

Responding to a suggestion from David W, David M drew attention to Apple’s web pages on Security including the introduction of the handshake icon https://www.apple.com/uk/privacy/

Comments

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David Moon said…

Re my comment about two factor verification and text forwarding even with phone disconnected from WiFi network it worked so it would seem that the phone being linked to AppleMessaging server is sufficient?

John Lemon said…

The latest version of Pages is 7.0.
I wouldn't want anyone to rush out and try to "update" to ver 4!
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