Technologies

Your Microsoft Passwords Will Vanish in a Few Hours. What to Do Right Now

Microsoft’s go-to password manager won’t be the same after Aug. 1.

It’s time to say so long to the Microsoft Authenticator app as we know it.

As of this Friday, Aug. 1, the app will no longer save or manage passwords, use two-factor authentication or auto-fill. And it won’t be your go-to password manager anymore, either. Instead of passwords, Microsoft is moving to passkeys — such as PINs, fingerprint scans, facial recognition or a pattern on your device’s lock screen.

Using passkeys is a safer alternative to the risky password habits 49% of US adults use, according to CNET’s password survey. However, Attila Tomaschek, a CNET software senior writer and digital security expert, prefers Microsoft’s new login over password habits that can risk your data being stolen.

There’s not much time to learn about passkeys or password manager, but we’re here to help. Here’s what you need to know to get started.

Microsoft Authenticator will stop supporting passwords on Aug. 1

Microsoft Authenticator houses your passwords and lets you sign into all your Microsoft accounts using a PIN, facial recognition like Windows Hello or other biometric data like a fingerprint. Authenticator can be used in other ways, such as verifying you’re logging in if you forgot your password, or using two-factor authentication as an extra layer of security for your accounts. In June, the company stopped letting users add passwords to Authenticator.

As of this month, you won’t be able to use the autofill password function. And starting Aug. 1, you’ll no longer be able to use saved passwords.

If you still want to use passwords instead of passkeys, you can store them in Microsoft Edge. However, CNET experts recommend adopting passkeys during this transition. «Passkeys use public key cryptography to authenticate users, rather than relying on users themselves creating their own (often weak or reused) passwords to access their online accounts,» Tomaschek said.

Why passkeys are a better alternative to passwords

So what exactly is a passkey? It’s a credential created by the Fast Identity Online Alliance that uses biometric data or a PIN to verify your identity and access your account. Think about using your fingerprint or Face ID to log into your account. That’s generally safer than using a password that is easy to guess or susceptible to a phishing attack.

«Passwords can be cracked, whereas passkeys need both the public and the locally stored private key to authenticate users, which can help mitigate risks like falling victim to phishing and brute-force or credential-stuffing attacks,» said Tomaschek.

Passkeys aren’t stored on servers like passwords. Instead, they’re stored only on your personal device. More conveniently, this takes the guesswork out of remembering your passwords and the need for a password manager.

How to set up a passkey in Microsoft Authenticator

Microsoft said in a May 1 blog post that it will automatically detect the best passkey to set up and make that your default sign-in option. «If you have a password and ‘one-time code’ set up on your account, we’ll prompt you to sign in with your one-time code instead of your password. After you’re signed in, you’ll be prompted to enroll a passkey. Then the next time you sign in, you’ll be prompted to sign in with your passkey,» according to the blog post.

To set up a new passkey, open your Authenticator app on your phone. Tap on your account and select «Set up a passkey.» You’ll be prompted to log in with your existing credentials. After you’re logged in, you can set up the passkey.

Other password manager alternatives

Since Microsoft will get rid of all of your passwords in two weeks, you’ll need a new place to store your passwords safely. Tomaschek has a few of the best password manager recommendations after testing and reviewing several.

The top recommendation is Bitwarden for its transparency. It’s open-source and audited annually. From a price perspective, the free plan lets you store infinite passwords across unlimited devices. The free plan also includes features most password managers would charge for, including password sharing and a username and password generator.

Bitwarden’s upgraded plans have other upgraded features that could be worth the cost, too.

Personally, Tomaschek has been using 1Password for a while, and he likes the interface and family plan. Even though it’s second on the list, Tomaschek says it’s just as good as Bitwarden.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Friday, Aug. 1

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Aug. 1.

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.

I love it when the Mini Crossword is playful. The 4-Across and 5-Across clues are a lot of fun, and the clue for 1-Across is just plain adorable. It brought a little extra sparkle to my crossword experience. Looking for a hand 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 to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Arm-y greeting
Answer: HUG

4A clue: Undiluted … or a country with its vowels swapped
Answer: PURE

5A clue: Ballroom dance … or a country with its vowels swapped
Answer: TANGO

6A clue: Played a role
Answer: ACTED

7A clue: Eisenberg of «The Social Network»
Answer: JESSE

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Ketchup brand
Answer: HUNTS

2D clue: Eggs on
Answer: URGES

3D clue: Crystal-lined rock
Answer: GEODE

4D clue: Marathoner’s concern
Answer: PACE

5D clue: ___ Mahal
Answer: TAJ

Technologies

High Noon Recalls Alcoholic Drinks Mislabeled as Celsius. What to Do if You Were Impacted

This packaging label mishap could lead to unintentional alcohol consumption. Here’s how to check if you bought these cans.

High Noon has issued a recall on two of its Beach Variety packs because of the presence of alcohol in the wrong type of cans. Within these 12-packs of High Noon Beach Variety packs there may be some Celsius-labelled cans — which should contain an energy drink — that were shipped out with High Noon vodka seltzer inside them.

Cans that are filled with High Noon’s vodka seltzer are mislabeled as Celsius Astro Vibe Energy Drink, Sparkling Blue Razz Edition, and have a silver top instead of a black top. High Noon discovered the error after receiving a shipment of empty Celsius cans instead of empty High Noon cans, according to a statement.

Distributors shipped these drinks to Florida, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin between July 21 and July 23.

Here’s which lot codes were impacted and what to do if you bought these cans.

What to do if you were impacted by High Noon’s drink recall

High Noon advises people who bought the following codes of Celsius Astro Vibe Energy Drink, Sparkling Blue Razz Edition not to consume it and to discard it. The lot codes are L CCB 02JL25 2:55 to L CCB 02JL25 3:11. Other High Noon variety packs should not be affected.

High Noon reported that no illnesses or events occurred as a part of the mislabeling. If you’ve purchased the impacted drinks, contact High Noon Consumer Relations at consumerrelations@highnoonvodka.com for next steps and refunds. The recall is being conducted with the US Food and Drug Administration and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.

CNET reached out to High Noon for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

Technologies

How to Join the Battlefield 6 Open Beta: Early Access Sign Up and Weekend Dates

The next Battlefield game is getting a public beta next weekend. Tune into your favorite streamer to get into it.

EA’s DICE studio has blown the lid off the multiplayer for its upcoming military shooter Battlefield 6, and players will soon get to join the fray themselves. A Battlefield 6 public beta is coming on two consecutive weekends starting Aug. 9 — and if you’re lucky enough to get in Early Access, to play starting Aug. 7 — and here’s how to join.

The Battlefield 6 open betas will be the first chances for players to get to experience the game’s multiplayer before its full release Oct. 10. The first open beta weekend will start at 1 a.m. PT Aug. 9 through Aug. 10 and the second will kick off at 1 a.m. PT Aug. 14 and run through Aug. 16. Fans can visit Battlefield’s website to get info for the open beta, which just requires linking your EA account to your platform account.

Note that publisher EA hasn’t provided a specific sign-up for the beta just yet but it will be open to all players. We’ll update this post if or when EA provides specific instructions for signing up but we do know the open beta can be pre-downloaded on respective platforms starting Aug. 4.

The beta will be playable on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

How to get Battlefield 6 open beta early access

There is one way to secure your spot in the open beta a couple days early on Aug. 7: Watch your favorite streamer playing Battlefield 6 today (July 31), as explained in an official post on X. You can watch on the official Battlefield Twitch or on a participating creator’s channel but you’ll have to do it fast as the event ends at 4:30 p.m. PT.

Here are the steps:

Sign into your Twitch account.
Make sure you have drops enabled and the Battlefield 6 Early Access Beta Key Drops selected from among the drops campaigns list.
Watch a single streamer participating in the Battlefield 6 Early Access Beta Key Drops for 60 minutes — if you’re having trouble finding one, search for «Battlefield 6» and look for streams that include «Beta Key Drops» or often just «Drops» in their titles.
Once earned, find your beta key access in your Drops Inventory.

Players who have participated in Battlefield Labs, studio DICE’s pre-release feedback program for the game, will be granted early access to play the beta starting Aug. 7.

Studio DICE didn’t detail which modes, weapons and other options will be playable in the open beta but it did confirm that «Closed Weapons» modes that restrict certain guns to certain classes will be available to try out. If the preview is anything to go by, players will be able to load up a handful of multiplayer modes, like Conquest, Squad Deathmatch and Breakthrough, on maps like Siege of Cairo, Empire State and Liberation Peak.

Battlefield 6 open beta dates

August 7-8: Early access, starting at 1 a.m. PT on Aug. 7
August 9-10: First open beta weekend available to all, starting at 1 a.m. PT on Aug. 9 and closing Aug. 11 at 1 a.m. PT.
August 14-16: Second open beta weekend available to all, starting at 1 a.m. PT on Aug. 14 and closing Aug. 17 at 1 a.m. PT.

PC specific notice for Battlefield 6 beta

A special note if you haven’t played a Battlefield game on PC recently: Studio DICE and EA recently started requiring players to set their computers to Secure Boot when playing Battlefield games to combat cheaters, and Battlefield 6 is no different. To even play the open beta, you’ll need to delve into your BIOS and switch your PC to Secure Boot — check EA’s guide for help.