Intego Mac Podcast

Apple issues another round of updates, hackers target organizations involved in coronavirus vaccine development, and there was a big Twitter hack where CEOs and politicians had their accounts compromised. Tweets were posted for a cryptocurrency scam, but were there other reasons for the hack? Show Notes : Apple releases macOS Catalina 10.15.6, iOS 13.6, and more UK and allies expose Russian attack...

While there is plenty of malware that affects the Mac, actual viruses are rare; but new malware has been found that does meet that description. We talk about how 1 in 142 passwords is "123456," and we have a special announcement about new Intego software. Show Notes : Announcing Intego Antivirus for Windows Download a FREE trial of Intego Antivirus for Windows Buy Intego Antivirus for Windows at a...

New malware targeting the Mac was discovered this week; it's a hybrid ransomware-wiper-spyware, but you don't need to worry if you don't download pirated software. We also discuss how a journalist's iPhone was hacked by him visiting a website, look at issues with the TikTok app on iOS, and look at how Google is now auto-deleting new user history after 18 months. Show Notes : Journalist’s phone hac...

This week, Apple announced the new features for its coming operating system updates: macOS Big Sur, and iOS 14. They also announced a big change to Mac hardware. Josh and Kirk discuss the changes coming, and take a close look at security and privacy features in these operating systems. Show Notes : Apple’s New Plans for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac Unveiled at WWDC 2020 Universal App Quick Start Prog...

Intego has discovered new malware that propagates through poisoned Google search results. Zoom does a couple more u-turns. An App Store controversy is causing people to question Apple's policies. And spies can eavesdrop by watching the variations in light bulbs. Show Notes : Serious Cryptography - A Practical Introduction to Modern Encryption by Jean-Philippe Aumasson Applied Cryptography: Protoco...

Apple has been making its own chips for iOS devices for a while now, and it seems likely that the company will announce a move to the same ARM-based processors for Macs at the coming WorldWide Developer Conference. We discuss how Apple has changed processor architecture twice in the past, and cover some news about Dropbox, Zoom, the Brave web browser, and smart home devices. Show Notes : Smart app...

We begin by learning how Josh got interesting in computer security. We then discuss Apple patches and flaws, end-to-end encryption, coronavirus scams, a Google lawsuit, and a photo that can crash Android phones. Show Notes : Computer Viruses, Artificial Life and Evolution by Mark Ludwig Zero-day in Sign in with Apple Turn off Face ID on your iPhone BBC World Service Director calls for trusted news...

Apple updated all its operating systems again this week, but a jailbreak vulnerability was found quickly. We discuss the new contact tracing feature in iOS, how to free up storage on an iOS device, and give some tips on shooting video on an iPhone. Show Notes : You’re saying it wrong: How to say oft-mispronounced tech terms Jailbreak Tool 'unc0ver' 5.0 Released With iOS 13.5 Compatibility The FBI...

We look at some practical tips for getting more out of your Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch. We take a close look at System Preferences, discuss using the iPad as a second screen for your Mac; and a handful of tips for making the Apple Watch more efficient. Also, Josh and Kirk disagree about Microsoft's choice to flag two spaces after a period in Word as an error. Show Notes : Microsoft Word now flags...

The date for this year's WWDC has been set (June 22). Many users don't know that the government can access some of your iCloud data (with a warrant). We look at a new Thunderbolt vulnerability that affects Macs made since 2011 (but you don't need to worry). And we discuss contact tracing apps and new North Korean malware. Show Notes : Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2020 kicks off in June...

Passwords are easy to implement, but keeping them secure is not that simple. On World Password Day, Josh and Kirk discuss how passwords might be replaced by other means of authentication. And they discuss the UK's covid-19 contact tracing app which raises privacy concerns, a Facebook bug that caused lots of apps to fail, why you should always check that auto-completed email address, and more. Show...

Getting a text message on an iOS device can crash your iPhone or iPad; but it can't do any more harm than that. Apple has released a beta version of iOS with its coronavirus notification API, but Americans don't trust tech companies. And we talk about Apple TV+, and how you should never share your Apple ID so friends can watch shows with your account. Show Notes : A viral text string with an Itali...

Every day is zero day in the security world. Researchers have found some serious vulnerabilities in iOS that affect the Mail app, and a fix is coming. Compromised ad servers allow cybercriminals to serve malware on respected websites. And we discuss the new Magic Keyboard for iPad, which turns the iPad into a new computing device. Show Notes : Researchers Say They Caught an iPhone Zero-Day Hack in...

Apple has announced a new iPhone SE, a low-priced phone that's really the iPhone for everyone. Google and Apple are working on a contract tracing app, to help stem the spread of the coronavirus. And Apple users are among those most targeted by phishing. And we inaugurate our new segment, Zoom Zinger, where we highlight security and privacy issues with the Zoom videoconferencing software. (Sorry ab...

A good friend of Kirk's, a very tech savvy guy, got scammed on the phone by someone pretending to be from his bank. We discuss how this happened, and all the red flags you need to be aware of. We also discuss how Apple is helping health care workers, and we look at the latest Zoom security and privacy issues. Show Notes : Tim Cook's tweet about masks and face shields Apple face shield instructions...

Lots of people have turned to Zoom to stay in touch with friends and family, and to work from home, but this software has had a huge number of security issues. We discuss these and how this trend shows poor attention to security and privacy in this software. Show Notes : Episode 92: Zoom Zero-Day, and Unmasking Mac Malware Makers Apple pushed a silent MRT update to remove hidden Zoom web server “Z...

Josh and Kirk discuss how to set up a medical ID on an iPhone and Apple Watch, we cover this week's Apple updates, we look at a new Intel CPU bug, and more. Show Notes : How to Set Up Medical ID on Your iPhone and Apple Watch Cybercriminals are preying on coronavirus fears Safari will now block third-party cookies by default, delete a site's local storage after seven days How to Manage and Remove...

Many people are required to work from home for the foreseeable future, so Josh and Kirk have decided to give some tips about working from home, something they both do. Show Notes : Objective by the Sea Take Control of Working from Home Temporarily Dyson air purifier Netatmo weather station Is Conference Room Air Making You Dumber? Pomodoro Technique (Wikipedia) MultiTimer (iOS and Apple Watch) Epi...

Malware has affected Apple computers since even before the release of the Macintosh. In fact, the very first computer virus that spread in the wild affected the Apple II. We discus the history of Apple malware, and we talk with John McAfee, creator of the first commercial antivirus, about how he created the software. Show Notes : Key Moments in the History of Mac Malware John McAfee Elk Cloner App...

Josh attended this year's RSA Conference, one of the big meet-ups about computer security, and discusses what he learned there. We also cover news about smart speakers listening to your conversations (again), a copy/paste issue that Apple says isn't a big deal, and a new limitation by Safari for HTTPS certificates, that will affect some websites. Show Notes : Your smart speaker could be listening...

Your work computer or phone doesn't belong to you, and you should be careful about what you do on these devices. Your employer can track you and all your activity, and record what you do, and even, perhaps, what you type. Show Notes : RSA Conference 2020 10 Things You Shouldn’t Do on Your Work Computer (or Phone) BadUSB (Wikipedia) (discussed from 20:47 to 22:02) O.MG Cable (discussed from 20:47 t...

Your iPhone or iPad comes with 36 default apps, including Mail, Safari, and Messages. You may want to use other apps for email, for browsing, and for messaging, in part to enhance your security and privacy. While you can't set other apps to replace the defaults, as you can on macOS, you can switch. We explain how. Show Notes : Apple Weighs Letting Users Switch Default iPhone Apps to Rivals Switch...

A child spends a fortune on in-app purchases, the CIA has been running a fake company providing encryption services, and beware of public lockers. We then take a deep dive into blockchain technology and cryptocurrency; if you've been wondering what Bitcoin is, we explain (almost) everything. Show Notes : 8-year-old spends $1,875 on Roblox in-app purchases by adding her fingerprint to TouchID Bewar...

We explain how to delete "off-Facebook activity," discuss a Google Photos data leak, a Twitter phone number issue, and a man who created a traffic jam with a wagon full of smartphones. We then explain how security analysts work, discussing a developer who wanted to know why his Wacom drawing tablet had a privacy policy, and worked out what data the device was sending to a server. Show Notes : How...

Apple updates everything, the Ring doorbell has trackers in its app, and the Shlayer malware has infected lots of Macs. We then discussed a number of issues where free services you use monetize data collected about you and your activities. Show Notes : Apple releases macOS Catalina 10.15.3, iOS 13.3.1, and more Apple Security Updates Ring Doorbell App Packed with Third-Party Trackers Leaked Docume...