The top five tech headlines this week are highlighted by a huge undertaking for all of us: password changing, thanks to the discovery of Heartbleed, a security bug that could make Internet surfing less safe as websites patch up holes.
Security researchers who uncovered the threat are worried because the lapse went undetected for more than two years.
Many popular sites, including Google, Yahoo, Facebook, YouTube and Tumblr, said that they fixed vulnerabilities this week or were not affected and that new passwords are recommended for those sites. Apple and Amazon said their consumer sites were not vulnerable.
The bottom line: Experts say it's imperative to update your passwords ASAP and to use effective ones that aren't simply "123456" or "Password." Try combinations of letters, numbers and symbols.
Here's more from the week in Tech:
A MOVE FOR MESSENGER
Sorry, Facebook fans, but that messenger program we all use on the social network to instantly reach out to folks is leaving the mobile Facebook. If you want to connect with someone, you'll need to leave Facebook soon and open up the free-standing Messenger app. The reason for the change? Facebook says messaging is a better experience on the app, so it wants to put the emphasis there.
FAREWELL TO XP
Another big change came to users of Windows XP, the 12-year-old operating system that no longer will get security updates from Microsoft, which wants you to stop using XP and buy new software. But guess what — Tuesday came and went, and millions of XP machines kept on running. So far, so good, but folks: XP without security has been described as a hacker's paradise. Best to join the modern era with more current software.
HELLO TO A NEW GALAXY
Speaking of contemporary, Samsung this week brought out the latest state-of-the-art Galaxy smartphone. The S5 has a slightly larger screen and built-in heart-rate monitor, is wate! rproof and — oh! — takes a pretty cool picture, too. In his review, USA TODAY's Ed Baig called the Galaxy S5 "a solid device" that didn't break much major ground.
WHAT'S UP IN APPS
Finally, in app news, the numbers puzzle 2048 is No. 1 on the free iTunes app chart for the third week in a row, but bubbling under is the mind game What's the Difference?, another fun time-waster. Tops for Android is Cut the Rope 2, a character-based adventure game.
Readers: Have you changed your passwords yet? Any questions about password management? Let's chat about it on Twitter, where I'm @jeffersongraham.
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