 If you recently signed into your Google, Microsoft, or Amazon account, you may have seen a message asking you to setup a passkey. In theory passkeys are simple, using something like your phone's fingerprint or face ID sensor in place of a password. However, the trick is in the details. If you set up a passkey on your phone, it may be difficult to use that passkey when signing into an account using your computer. Or, perhaps you use multiple password managers (a common faux pas that we can help with), which leads to problems accessing passkeys. You can read more about the saga of passkeys by clicking here.
Right now, our advice is to pass on passkeys. If you want better security, turn on 2-factor authentication for important websites so that they send you a text message to confirm it's you when you log in for the first time on a new device. For the strongest security, instead of receiving a code via text message, you can have your password manager automatically generate these codes (known as one-time passwords). Our favorite password manager, 1Password, can do this with ease. Click here for instructions for 1Password.  The IRS is directly offering free tax filing software for the 2024 tax year via IRS Direct File.
The IRS also has partnerships with other companies provide free tax filing, called IRS Free File. This Citizen-Times article has more info on your tax filing options.   Now that the calendar has turned to 2025, two more widely used software systems have been discontinued.
Apple has discontinued security update support for MacOS Monterey, meaning that over time, users on Monterey will become more vulnerable to security issues and glitches. Some new software may not work at all on Monterey. For people still on Monterey, it is highly recommended to discontinue use of the Safari web browser, and switch to a browser that still receives security updates on Monterey, such as Firefox or Chrome. Microsoft has discontinued updates for Office 2019 for Mac. It is no longer getting security improvements, and may stop working properly over time. Upgrade options include Office 2024 and the Microsoft 365 subscription. |
AuthorJensen Gelfond is the Founder of Asheville Digital Lifestyle. He helps people use their technology more effectively and joyfully. Categories
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