MobileMe: Keeping your MobileMe account secure
Summary
It is important that you create a strong password that cannot be "guessed". There are several things you can do to keep others from guessing your password:
Products Affected
MobileMe
- Keep your MobileMe password unique.
Don't use the same password for multiple services or websites. While this is convenient, it means that if someone gets your password for one of the other sites, they will know your MobileMe password.
Note: Your MobileMe email address can also be your Apple ID for things like the iTunes Store, iPhoto print ordering, the Apple Store, or the Apple Discussion boards. That password will be the same as your MobileMe password. - Never give out your password.
Even if you need assistance with your MobileMe account, Apple will never ask for the password of your account, nor should you ever volunteer it. - Use a variety of characters in your password.
MobileMe passwords can be between 6 and 32 characters in length. You can create a strong password by using a combination of numbers, upper and lower case letters, and special characters. See Choosing good passwords in Mac OS X for more password tips.
Note: Some special characters can't be used in your MobileMe password. - Change your MobileMe password from time to time.
Periodically changing the password for your account can help if someone already knows your current password. - Make sure your password is up-to-date on all computers and devices
MobileMe or other related features (such as Find My iPhone) may not function as expected after changing your MobileMe password until you enter your new password into all of your computers and devices (iPhone, iPod touch, and so on). - Make sure only you know the answer to your password question.
Keep your password strong by ensuring that the challenge question and answer, used when you forget your password, is strong as well. Choose a question to which only you know the answer and the answer itself is obscure. For example, "what was your first teacher's name?" is a good question if the answer is an uncommon name. However, this a bad question if the answer is a very popular name (for example, Smith, Johnson, Jones). Choose a question that cannot be answered through research (for example, your birthday, your phone number and your mother's maiden name can be researched).
Note: Make sure that you remember what your answer is, because you will need it if you ever forget your password. - Avoid putting personal information online.
You should avoid putting personal information online such as your exact birthdate on a public web page. If your birthday is posted publicly, use a different date that you can remember. - Log out of the MobileMe website if your are using a Mac OS X account or public computer to which others may have access.
Simply click Log Out in the upper right corner of any MobileMe window to log out. - Change your password if you feel your account has been compromised in any way.
If you feel your password has been compromised, you should change your password, your birthday, and your challenge question and answer immediately. After changing your password, you will need to change any iPhone settings, mail applications, or any other application on MobileMe that uses your password. - Use the passcode lock feature.
If you are using an iPhone or iPod touch, consider using the passcode lock feature (available in the General section of Settings on the iPhone/iPod touch). The passcode lock feature will help protect any data you are syncing with MobileMe, as well as any other private information on your iPhone or iPod touch. - Adjust your computer settings to require a password on waking from sleep.
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