News written by James Delahunty (March, 2013)

Apple has introduced two-step verification for Apple ID and iCloud accounts, strengthening security for its users.

The new system requires that a user verify their identity on a trusted device before they will be able to make changes to their personal information, following similar security systems offered by Google and others.

A verification code will be sent to a trusted device, which then must be provided to login and change Apple ID or iCloud settings, while a recovery key will also be provided to users which can be used in the case of lost passwords, lost devices, and so on.

Two-step verification can help greatly to reduce the chances of account hijacking, and is becoming more common for web services while news of high profile account hacking circulates.

Users in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland will be able to use the new system first.

An administrative judge at the International Trade Commission (ITC) has found that Microsoft did not infringe a patent held by Motorola Mobility.

After acquiring Motorola Mobility, Google pushed forward with a patent infringement case against Microsoft related to technology used in its Xbox video game console products.

Of the five patents originally involved in the dispute, four of the claims were dropped. The remaining patent covered technology that allows devices to wirelessly communicate over short distances, and Google sought action from the International Trade Commission (ITC), which has the power to ban importation of infringing products into the United States.

On Friday, an ITC administrative law judge issues a preliminary decision finding that Microsoft did not violate a patent held by the Google subsidiary.

"We are pleased with the administrative law judge's finding that Microsoft did not violate Motorola's patent and are confident that this determination will be affirmed by the commission," said David Howard, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel at Microsoft, told Reuters.