3. Setup XAMPP Security
Go back to localhost or localhost:8080 in your web browser. Click on security and it will open a new window/tab to http://localhost/security/index.php or http://localhost:8080/security/index.php.
Then click on the link: http://localhost/security/xamppsecurity.php. This will allow you to change your mySQL password and .htaccess password. Since this is typically my sandbox for breaking things and developing code, I just enter a mySQL password. Click password changing and you will receive a message: The root password was successfully changed. Please restart MYSQL for loading these changes! Then close the window/tab.