Instagram Password SNAFU Affects “Millions” of Users

A while back, Facebook disclosed that thousands of Instagram users’ usernames and passwords were stored in plain text on Facebook servers and exposed to thousands of employees. Last week, coincidentally the same day as the release of the Mueller Report, Facebook updated the post and admitted the problem was more significant than they initially thought. (Kudos to TechCrunch for catching the update.) With this latest update, Facebook states the security lapse affected “millions” of users.

I know these posts are starting to sound like a broken record, but I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that you manage your own passwords. You have to be extra vigilant because the people you trust on those websites are not necessarily worthy of that trust.

Get yourself a good password manager. (My favorite continues to be Mac Power Users’ sponsor 1Password.) Change your most important passwords frequently. Be careful out there.

PDFpen: Powerful PDF Editing (Sponsor)



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This week, MacSparky is sponsored by PDFpen for Mac. To properly work with PDF documents, you’ll need some powerful tools:

  • You’ll need to have the ability to perform optical character recognition on the document so you can search it.

  • You’ll need a full set of annotation tools.

  • You’ll need the ability properly redact private information.

  • You’ll need image support.

  • You’ll need the ability to add a digital signature.

PDFpen does all of this, and so much more. Smile also offers PDFpen for iPad and iPhone for editing PDFs for when you are on the go.

Head over to the PDFpen website for a full list of features. Also, make sure to let them know you heard about it here at MacSparky.com. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=18&v=1OVaaLEbFH0

Timing App Screencast Series

I believe in time tracking as a productivity tool. I have talked about it on several podcasts over the years, and while I think getting a report of how you actually use your time can be an incredible benefit, I also understand why so few people do it. 

It is a complete pain in the neck to track your time manually. That is one of the reasons I have always liked the Timing application for Mac. It tracks your time automatically and gives you very precise data about what you did on your Mac and when you did it.

The Timing developer asked me to prepare a series of screencasts to explain how the app works. Consider the screencasts a small Timing Field Guide. If you have ever been curious about Timing and the concept of time tracking, check out the screencasts to help you decide if Timing is for you. The first screencasts are linked below. You can watch the rest of them at the developer’s website.

Automators Assemble!



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Rosemary and I aren’t looking to vanquish Thanos. Our endgame is to show you how automation can make your life so much easier. We just want to enhance your super powers. You don’t have to wear a cape, but there is an awesome Automators Assemble! hoodie and t-shirt now available at Cotton Bureau. You may not always be able to display your prowess as an automator, but you will definitely be able to show the world your keen fashion sense when you sport this hoodie or tee. Shop soon, though. They’re only available for a limited time.

Mac Power Users 479: 100,000 Subscribers, with Rene Ritchie



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Over a year ago, long-time Apple blogger Rene Ritchie launched Vector, a daily YouTube show covering the world of Apple and tech. On this week’s episode of Mac Power Users, Stephen and I catch up with Rene. We talk about his video workflows, YouTube as a platform, and the future of the Mac and iOS.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • The Omni Group: We’re passionate about productivity for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. 

  • 1Password: Have you ever forgotten a password? You don’t have to worry about that anymore. 

  • eero: Never think about WiFi again. Get $100 off the ‘Eero base unit and 2 beacons package’, and a year of eero Plus.

  • Direct Mail: Create and send great looking email newsletters with Direct Mail, an easy-to-use email marketing app designed exclusively for the Mac.

PowerPhotos 1.6



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If you find yourself banging your head against Apple’s Photos app limitations, you may want to check out the latest version of PowerPhotos. Version 1.6 has several new features to help you get your photo library in order. Because PowerPhotos allows you to work with multiple Photos libraries, now when you copy or merge Live Photos between libraries, both the photo and video components will be preserved. Also, your photos’ original filename will be kept so that when you copy photos that have been edited in the Photos app, they won’t be imported into the destination library with its unhelpful modified name (e.g. “IMG_0001.JPG” instead of “fullsizeoutput_123.jpeg”).

The photo browser’s got a few helpful tweaks. Now you can heart you favorite photos with a heart icon in grid view. You can also see how long a movie is in grid view. And if you haven’t titled your photo, its filename will now be displayed underneath the photo.

If you’re an existing user, the update is free. If you’re interested in PowerPhotos, there’s a free version you can try, but if you want to use the advanced features such as copying photos, merging libraries, and removing duplicate photos, you can purchase a license for $29.95.

HoudahSpot 5


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HoudahSpot is an application that unlocks the full power of Finder and Spotlight on the Mac. It simplifies the process of searching through your Mac for specific files. Using HoudahSpot, you can build searches that are as complex or as simple as you want. The beauty of HoudahSpot is that it is a visual process, and anyone can do it. I think I’ve been using HoudahSpot since version 1.


They have now released version 5, and it is a whopper. There are a number of new features that justified the upgrade for me, including faster file tagging, keyboard shortcuts, popclip support, and I really dig the new vertical layout. There is a list of new features on the website.

If you spend any time at all working with files on your Mac, this is one of those applications you should own.

Focused 71: Hyper-Scheduling



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This episode focuses on hyper-scheduling and how to turn your calendar into a productivity weapon. Mike and I also continue the conversation about digital minimalism and share a few of our favorite books.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

  • FreshBooks: Online invoicing made easy.

  • Hover: Extensions for anything you’re passionate about. Grab a .ME domain for $9.99.

  • MOO: Custom business printing and design. Use promo code PRINT15 for 15% off.