Technologies

AT&T’s New Lock Option Thwarts Thieves Who Try to Access Your Account

Add another level of security to make sure someone pretending to be you doesn’t get into your account.

AT&T is rolling out a new feature in its MyAT&T app intended to prevent nefarious individuals from accessing customers’ online accounts. Wireless Account Lock, which has been rolling out in waves but will reach wide availability on Tuesday, disables some key actions that are frequently used to circumvent a legitimate owner’s access to their account.

This type of access is different from large data breaches, such as the two incidents that AT&T has recently agreed to settle for $177 million. Wireless Account Lock adds a security step to keep someone from getting access to your account and doing things such as shutting you out or ordering hardware — on your dime — that is then shipped elsewhere.

A new Business Account Lock feature is also now active for corporate customers. AT&T prepaid customers can also engage an account lock with similar blocking features.

Crucially, only the primary account holder and any person on the account that they designate as a secondary account holder can control the Wireless Account Lock. That blocks others on the account from making important changes.

The Wireless Account Lock feature is accessible only through the MyAT&T app. On postpaid accounts, it works on any active AT&T device associated with the account. If that phone is lost, the primary or secondary holder can log in to the app using another device registered to the account. If one is not available, you’ll need to contact AT&T and go through a more rigorous authentication process.

What gets locked down by Wireless Account Lock

The lock feature is designed to protect against someone impersonating you to gain account access. When it’s enabled, the following features require the approval of the account holder(s) to be implemented:

• Changes to billing info, authorized users and phone numbers

• Transferring wireless numbers to other accounts

• Buying or upgrading a device on the account

• Swapping the SIM card or eSIM to another device

• Adding a new line

For the Business Account Lock, account administrators can control which lines are locked and can choose which lock features are implemented.

How to enable Wireless Account Lock

When signed into the MyAT&T app, do the following:

Tap the Services button (the icon with a grid of squares).
Tap Mobile security.
Scroll to the bottom of the screen and tap Wireless Account Lock, then tap Continue to get past the explanation of what the feature does.
Tap the checkbox after you’ve reviewed the terms and conditions, and then drag the Swipe to Lock slider.

Technologies

Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for April 7, #1753

Here are hints and the answer for today’s Wordle for April 7, No. 1,753.

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Wordle puzzle wasn’t too tricky, for a change. If you need a new starter word, check out our list of which letters show up the most in English words. If you need hints and the answer, read on.

Today’s Wordle hints

Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.

Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats

Today’s Wordle answer has one repeated letter.

Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels

Today’s Wordle answer has one vowel, but it’s the repeated letter, so you’ll see it twice.

Wordle hint No. 3: First letter

Today’s Wordle answer begins with D.

Wordle hint No. 4: Last letter

Today’s Wordle answer ends with E.

Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning

Today’s Wordle answer can relate to something that is closely compacted.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Today’s Wordle answer is DENSE.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle answer, April 6, No. 1752, was SWORN.

Recent Wordle answers

April 2, No. 1748: SOBER

April 3, No. 1749: SINGE

April 4, No. 1750: SANDY

April 5, No. 1751: ENVOY

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

Don’t be afraid to use our tip sheet ranking all the letters in the alphabet by frequency of uses. In short, you want starter words that lean heavy on E, A and R, and don’t contain Z, J and Q.

Some solid starter words to try:

ADIEU

TRAIN

STARE

NOISE

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Tuesday, April 7

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for April 7.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.