Technologies

Doing these 5 things can help you lock down your Microsoft 365 account and keep hackers at bay

Even the US government isn’t immune to hackers compromising its Microsoft Office software. This is how to protect your own Microsoft apps and accounts.

Earlier this year, news broke that foreign hackers had for months been secretly monitoring email accounts and communications between US government officials in charge of identifying foreign threats to national security. The attackers executed their intrusion through malicious code in an IT product called SolarWinds, which allowed them to access the network and break into Microsoft’s email client.

Microsoft released guidance for how organizations can bolster security to attempt to avoid these attacks, and said that it has not identified any Microsoft product vulnerabilities.

There may not be much you can do about the SolarWinds vulnerability or others like it. But if you get your work or personal email through Outlook on Microsoft 365, there are ways to better secure your individual account and avoid hacks. (If you use Windows 10, there are also several security defaults that you can change to better protect your device — many of which will also be available in the upcoming Windows 11.)

Here are five ways to lock down your Microsoft account.

Read more: How to get Microsoft 365 for free

1. Set up multifactor authentication

Multifactor authentication is the best way to protect yourself from someone stealing your login credentials, according to the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Basically, it adds an extra layer of security to your account sign-in — for example, you enter your password along with a verification code sent to your phone or provided by an authenticator app.

To set up multifactor authentication (also called two-step verification), go to the security basics page, and sign in with your Microsoft account. Select More security options. Under Two-step verification, choose Set up two-step verification to turn it on and get further instructions.

To set it up on a work Microsoft 365 account, your administrator will have to enable it. Once that’s done, when you sign in with your username and password, you’ll be prompted for more information. Click Next.

The default authentication method is to use the free Microsoft Authenticator app, which you can download on your mobile device. This app gives you a unique code to enter that expires after a certain amount of time.

Or, if you’d rather get a code through SMS message, you can choose «I want to set up a different method.» Microsoft will ask for your mobile number, and send you a text with a six-digit code to verify your account.

2. Protect your password

Never use the same password for multiple accounts. There are lots of great password managers available to help you keep track of all your passwords, including the free LastPass. You should also choose a strong password — one that avoids using common words and is at least eight characters long. Check out our other recommendations for choosing a strong password here.

3. Avoid phishing scams

If you get an email about the security of your Microsoft account, it could be a phishing scam — a type of attack where hackers impersonate a company or someone you know to trick you into revealing personal information like passwords or credit card numbers. These emails often include a link to a malicious website, which you should never click.

The best way to avoid these emails is to know how to spot them — they might have misspelled words, be from a slightly misspelled source (like microsoftsupport.ru or micros0ft.com) or include an urgent call to take action or avoid a threat. If anything looks suspicious, just delete it, or report it by forwarding it to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at phishing-report@us-cert.gov.

4. Protect your apps

On your phone or desktop, only install and run apps from legitimate sources, like the app store for your device. If you’re using Microsoft 365, using Microsoft apps to access those accounts is the most secure choice, according to the company. You should also make sure all apps as well as your operating system are up to date — many updates you get are security fixes, so be sure to install them quickly.

5. Make it easy to recover your account

You can set up your account to make it easy to recover in case all else fails and you do get hacked. To do that, go to the Microsoft security basics page, and add in all the information, like your email address and phone number. Make sure you keep this information up to date to keep your account safer.

For more, check out our security tips if you’re still running Windows 7, how to download Windows 10 free and how to download Windows 11 free.

Technologies

Tariffs Explained: I Have Everything You Need to Know as Trump Spars With Apple, Walmart

Technologies

How Much Will the iPhone 17 Cost?

Tariffs could hike the price of the new iPhone, but other factors play a role, too. What to look for as the release day approaches.

The rumored iPhone 17 is getting plenty of attention for potential new features and upgrades, like more memory and a camera upgrade. And the prospect of an ultrathin iPhone just adds to the excitement as the expected release date approaches.

But of all the rumors about the new iPhone, one of the most persistent may be: How much will it cost?

There are a lot of factors that could affect the pricing for the rumored iPhone 17, including tariffs, production costs and the overall health of the US economy.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

We won’t know the exact price for the next iPhone until its release, which is expected to be in September. But we’ve pored over all the leaks, rumors and predictions about prices, and we found ways to help you save if a new iPhone is in your future.

How tariffs could affect the cost of the next iPhone

Amid President Donald Trump’s ongoing tariff bender, higher reciprocal tariffs are currently on pause. However, Trump took to social media on Friday, threatening Apple with a 25% tariff on all iPhones made outside the US. While there’s no timeline for this tariff rollout, there’s currently a 10% baseline tariff on all imports and a 30% tariff on goods from China, where Apple still manufactures most of its products. Those rates may also start to rise in July when the initial tariff pause expires, which could lead to higher prices on everything — including the rumored iPhone 17.

Apple appears to have dodged a lot of the initial tariff impact. It stockpiled phones before tariffs took effect, and Trump’s exemption list included many phones, laptops and other electronics that Apple produces.

The tech giant has also moved some US iPhone production from China to India, which currently has a lower tariff rate. However, Trump called out Apple CEO Tim Cook to instead move iPhone production to the US. Most experts consider this an unrealistic demand, especially in the short term, because of higher labor and production costs in the US. Estimates have suggested that a US-made iPhone would cost as much as $3,500.

That leaves prices for the next iPhone in limbo. Trump’s administration called the exemption list «temporary» in early April, saying that exemptions would end in «a month or two.» Around the same time, Trump said that semiconductors, which power tech products, will eventually be placed in a different «tariff bucket.» However, no details have been shared about the timeline or expected tariff percentages.

With all the reprieves appearing to be temporary, tariffs could still potentially affect prices by the time the rumored iPhone 17 is expected to be released.

If the original reciprocal tariff pause expires, for instance, taxes on imports from India would rise from 10% to 26% starting in July. If the 90-day pause for China expires, tariffs on that country would jump from 30% to 145% in August. Experts point out that a tariff rate hike doesn’t necessarily mean an iPhone’s price would increase at the same rate, but most expect at least some impact.

And where the phone is assembled is only part of the tariff equation. Apple sources components for the iPhone from dozens of other countries, which could also potentially affect the price.

Based on where tariffs stand now, here’s how much you could potentially pay for the next iPhone based on current iPhone 16 prices. These are estimates and not pricing from Apple:

How much could tariffs affect the price of an iPhone 17?*

	Current price	Current 10% tariff on goods from India	Potential 26% tariff for India	Current 30% tariff on goods from China	Potential 145% tariff for China
iPhone 16E (128GB)	$599	$659	$830	$779	$1,614
iPhone 16 (128GB)	$799	$879	$1,107	$1,039	$2,153
iPhone 16 Plus (128GB)	$899	$989	$1,246	$1,169	$2,423
iPhone 16 Pro (128GB)	$999	$1,099	$1,385	$1,299	$2,692
iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB)	$1,199	$1,319	$1,662	$1,559	$3,231
iPhone 16 Pro Max (1TB)	$1,599	$1,759	$2,216	$2,079	$4,309

*Trump’s newly proposed 25% Apple tariff on iPhones manufactured outside the US could further increase the price of the next iPhone. We’ll keep this story up to date with the latest pricing information as we receive it.

What else could cause the new iPhone’s price to increase?

Trump immediately criticized retailers like Walmart and Amazon when they suggested that tariffs could result in higher prices, so it stands to reason that Apple won’t directly blame tariffs for potential price hikes to avoid a Trump tirade.

Rather, Apple could attribute the price increase to improved features and design costs. Regardless of tariffs, Apple has plans to raise iPhone prices this year, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Experts say Apple may be overdue for a price increase anyways. It’s been five years since the basic iPhone model increased in price, and each iteration of the iPhone generally improves on features from the last version.

My colleague Patrick Holland, CNET’s managing editor, has been reviewing phones for CNET since 2016 and tracking prices over the years. He notes that the base iPhone model hasn’t gone up in price since 2020.

His research points to the standard iPhone model’s price increasing approximately every five years, typically between $50 and $150. Based on this evidence and the iPhone 16’s current price of $799, we could expect the new iPhone to cost somewhere between $850 and $950.

What will the iPhone 17 Air cost?

Early rumors had the iPhone 17 Air topping the iPhone Pro in price. However, a March Bloomberg report suggested the phone could cost around $900, similar to the current iPhone 16 Plus’s price tag. Those estimates are based on the current costs and may not include the potential impact tariffs could have on an ultrathin iPhone’s price.

How the economy could affect iPhone prices

Uncertainty in the US economy — in part due to the aforementioned tariff turmoil — has left many wary about what’s to come. While the recent agreement with China to pause tariffs helped the stock market to mostly recover from the dive it took after Trump’s Liberation Day, that reprieve offers only temporary relief.

Concerns about the risks of higher unemployment and higher inflation have left the Federal Reserve in wait-and-see mode for lowering interest rates. Higher interest rates can cause companies like Apple to pull back on spending and investment. Combined with higher tariffs, that pullback could potentially lead to global supply chain disruptions. Fewer iPhones available in the market could lead to higher prices.

If inflation resurges, rising costs could force Apple to increase the next iPhone’s price.

One tiny bright side, in theory, is that a weakening economy could force Apple to hold off on raising prices so it can stay competitive. But that may not offer much consolation if you’re worried about spending money because of a potential recession.

Will older iPhones cost more, too?

One way to save on Apple products is to buy last year’s model instead of the newest release. However, if the new iPhone is dramatically more expensive when it’s released, demand could increase for the older models. That could lead to price hikes on older models, too.

The flip side of this is that if the new iPhone’s prices rise and you have an older iPhone, your old iPhone would also likely increase in value, Holland said.

Trading or selling a used iPhone can help offset the cost if you do decide to buy the new iPhone.

Other ways Apple could raise prices

Even if Apple decides to hold the next iPhone’s price steady, there are other ways for the tech giant to recoup increased costs.

Apple could potentially offset the impact of tariffs by raising the price on its services — including its music, news and data plans — according to supply chain expert Joe Hudicka.

«We’ll see those markups in the subscription services first because they’ll appear smaller,» he said. «Consumers will still pay, just not all at once.»

Should we believe rumors and speculation about iPhone prices?

So seriously, how much is a new iPhone going to cost? The truth is, we can’t say with any certainty what the final numbers will be. Our assessments are based on ever-changing tariff policies, past pricing trends, rumors and leaks that are sometimes based on insider knowledge. But until Apple releases the rumored iPhone 17, we can only offer our best estimates for how much the final price tag will be.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Saturday, May 24

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for May 24.

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.

No matter how many NYT Mini Crossword puzzles I’ve done, those double-meaning clues always trip me up. So I see 8-Across, «army shirt,» and am trying to make «khaki» or «camo» fit. And I see 10-across, «wand-waving org,» and my mind goes to Harry Potter. I was wrong on both. Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. 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 at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: «Get a load of ___!»
Answer: THIS

5A clue: Ability to keep one’s balance on a ship
Answer: SEALEGS

8A clue: Army shirt?
Answer: TANKTOP

9A clue: Chicago trains
Answer: ELS

10A clue: Wand-waving org.
Answer: TSA

11A clue: Flowers depicted in classical Chinese art
Answer: PEONIES

13A clue: By oneself
Answer: ALONE

14A clue: Phileas ___, «Around the World in Eighty Days» protagonist
Answer: FOGG

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Something «read» in the divination method of tasseography
Answer: TEALEAF

2D clue: Sci-fi hero with the line «Never tell me the odds»
Answer: HANSOLO

3D clue: Kind
Answer: ILK

4D clue: Where a story takes place
Answer: SETTING

5D clue: Lather, rinse or repeat
Answer: STEP

6D clue: «Take a look for yourself!»
Answer: GOSEE

7D clue: Places to get pampered
Answer: SPAS

12D clue: Eggy holiday drink
Answer: NOG

How to play more Mini Crosswords

The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.