App-Specific Passwords

Ok all you Mac users out there, it looks like Apple is upgrading security and will start using app-specific passwords for all iCloud Data. 

They aren't the first company to require this but as everyone becomes security conscious they won't be the last either. The move to app-specific passwords is both a good and bad thing. It means that your Apple ID will be more secure but it also means that if you use a 3rd party app to access your iCloud data (like your mail or calendar) you will need to generate a password that only works with that specific application rather than using your Apple ID password. 

If you are a Mac user you probably already got the Apple email but here’s part of it:

If you are currently signed in to a third party app using your primary Apple ID password, you will be signed out automatically when this change takes effect. You will need to generate an app-specific password and sign in again.

To generate an app-specific password: Sign in to My Apple ID (https://appleid.apple.com) Go to Password & Security Click Generate App-Specific Password

For complete instructions, read Using App-Specific Passwords. If you need additional help, visit Apple Support. This requirement will start on 10/9/2014.  It sounds like this only applies to non-Apple software so if you use Apple mail as your main mail client you shouldn’t have an issue. If you do use some other application for mail, calendar or other iCloud data you will need to set an application specific password for it. Here’s a quick step-by-step. 1) First step is to log into your iCloud account from a web browser. https://appleid.apple.com 2) Once you log on you will be required to enter your two-step verification code. You can get this sent to your iPhone or other Apple device. 3) Go to “Password and Security” and select Generate an App-Specific Password 4) Label your password for the app you are using and click “Generate” 5) Enter the password that was generated into your application and make sure it works!!! 6) It looks like you are limited to 25 App-Specific passwords but you can revoke one or all of them if you need to. You can find out more about things here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6186 Good luck and I hope this helps!