Intego Mac Podcast

The world's richest man's iPhone was hacked when he clicked on a video in WhatsApp. Police and the FBI are cracking iPhones to get evidence. Should we worry? Tom Cruise would know what to do. Show Notes : Apple Reportedly Dropped Plans for End-to-End Encrypted iCloud Backups After FBI Objected iCloud security overview 2016 WSJ Story on Apple's Plans for E2E Encryption for iCloud Data iforgot.apple...

Photos you shoot with your iPhone, and with some cameras, store location data. Sharing these photos on social media may pinpoint your location: where you live, or where you work. It's easy to remove this data. In the news, we talk about listening in on Skype audio, another Apple - FBI spat about accessing data on an iPhone, Google getting rid of cookies, and more. Show Notes : New rack-mounted Mac...

We look back at the eventful year 2019 in Apple security. In the news, Apple is switching to randomized serial numbers for its products, Apple sues a company over jailbreaking, Firefox has critical vulnerabilities, and more. Show Notes : Apple Plans to Switch to Randomized Serial Numbers for Future Products Starting in Late 2020 Corellium Accuses Apple of Using Lawsuit to 'Crack Down on Jailbreaki...

We cover some security news, such as a password breach at Zynga, a user database breach at Waze, and a new Apple patent for under-display biometric sensors. Then we discuss essential settings to keep your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch secure. Show Notes : 170m passwords stolen in Zynga hack, monitor says Zynga (Wikipedia) have i been pwned? Wyze security camera user DB was breached Apple Wins Paten...

If you got a new Mac for the holidays, there are a number of settings you can adjust to enhance its security and privacy. We discuss eight tips to make your Mac stronger. We also look at some news, with Ring's reaction to the claims that they were compromised, Apple pulling an app from the App Store for spying on users, and Apple's new bug bounty program. Show Notes : Boxing Day (Wikipedia) Ring’s...

We take a close look at smart home technology and Apple's HomeKit, and also discuss why Vladimir Putin is still using Windows XP, another Ring camera issue, some password problems, and a new Intel vulnerability called Plundervolt. Show Notes : Vladimir Putin 'still uses obsolete Windows XP' despite hacking risk She installed a Ring camera in her children’s room for ‘peace of mind.’ A hacker access...

Apple has released the new Mac Pro, along with updates for all its operating systems this week. Google Chrome gets a serious update, Google Maps gets incognito mode, and the Ring doorbell leaks some location data allowing journalists to create heat maps of Ring-protected homes. Plus an AirDrop vulnerability, a tweet with an iPhone decryption key, and more. Show Notes : Here are all the big new fea...

We follow up on our Black Friday purchases, then talk about some Twitter trickery, some Russian rigidity, some charging insecurity, some location confusion, and some new Mac cryptocurrency malware. Show Notes : Tories pretend to be factchecking service during leaders' debate The iPhone 11 Pro’s Location Data Puzzler — Krebs on Security - Since we recorded this episode, Apple issued an explanation...

Apple's two-factor authentication system sets up a chain of trust from one device to another. By ensuring your identity on one device, that device can then authenticate you on another device, and provide you with enhanced features, such as an Apple Watch unlocking a Mac, or an iPhone authorizing Apple Pay on a Mac. Understanding this chain of trust helps you better understand how Apple protects yo...

It's Black Friday again, either the day we release this episode if you're in Europe, or next week, if you're in the US. It's the day when you can get some good deals on things you need, discounts on things you don't need, and, if you're not careful, you could get scammed. We discuss some best practices for buying new and used on Black Friday, and warn you about buying a used iPhone. Show Notes : W...

We discuss Apple's new 16" MacBook Pro with a redesigned keyboard; two new entrants in the video streaming market, Apple TV+ and Disney+; a bug in Facebook's app; Google's Pixel 4's face unlock; and more. Show Notes : Apple's new 16" MacBook Pro Apple TV+ Bug in Facebook App Accesses the Camera in the Background Facebook fixes bug that caused iOS app to use the camera in the background No one shou...

With the release of iPadOS, the iPad has become a serious competitor to a laptop. While you can't do everything on an iPad that you can on a laptop, the gulf between the two is getting slimmer. We talk with Ian Schray, a dedicated iPad user, about replacing a laptop with an iPad. Show Notes : The Committed Researchers use lasers to hack Siri, Alexa, Google assistants Apple updates its privacy page...

Apple has released a whole slew of security updates this week, stretching back quite far, and we discuss some of the changes, and also Apple's problematic HomePod update. Equifax is sued for using admin as user name and password to protect sensitive data. (Duh.) And we take a close look at the many security alerts and dialogs you see with macOS Catalina. Show Notes : Apple AirPods Pro New 13.2 Upd...

Samsung is foiled by screen protectors, users are spoofed by a clever two-factor authentication con, Firefox offers social tracking protection, and a stalker found his idol by analyzing reflections in her eyes in photos. And Google announces a quantum computing breakthrough that may mean that we need to use reeeeeeaaaaaallllllyyyyy long passwords in the future. Show Notes : Apple Sending User Data...

After a couple of news items, about Apple sending browsing data to Tencent in China, and a Google exec warning people to be wary of its smart home devices, we discuss Josh's talk at the MacTech conference about developing a security mindset. Show Notes : Apple Sending User Data to Chinese Company for Fraudulent Website Warnings in Safari Apple Clarifies Tencent's Role in Fraudulent Website Warning...

Josh and Kirk celebrate the two-year anniversary of the podcast, and discuss getting ready to upgrade to Catalina, with tips on how to ensure that your upgrade will be smooth, and the most efficient way to upgrade your Mac. Show Notes : How to Prepare Your Mac to Upgrade to macOS Catalina What Are 32-Bit and 64-Bit Apps, and Why Do They Matter? Setting Up a New Mac: Should You Migrate or Do a Clea...

Josh and Kirk discuss the many updates to iOS 13, how legit-looking lightning cables that can hack your devices will soon be on sale, how malspam mostly tries to trick people with bogus links, a Touch ID issue, and much more. Show Notes : Here’s why so many apps are asking to use Bluetooth on iOS 13 Developer of Checkm8 explains why iDevice jailbreak exploit is a game changer Correct Horse Battery...

It hasn't been long, but Apple has already released iOS 13.1, and iPad OS 13.1, both initially scheduled for next week. Josh and Kirk discuss these updates, an Apple security advisory about third-party iOS keyboard apps, and some other security news, then chat about the new Apple Watches and iPhones. Show Notes : Apple issues iOS 13.1.1 and security updates for every OS, even iOS 12 Apple Security...

As iOS 13 is out, Josh and Kirk discuss its new features and what you can look forward to. They also discuss how smart TVs spy on you and send data about everything you watch, as well as a new SIM card flaw and an iOS 13 lock screen bypass. One note: we mentioned that iOS 13.1 was due to be released on September 30. After we recorded the podcast, Apple announced that iOS 13.1 would be released ear...

Josh and Kirk celebrate episode 100 of the Intego Mac Podcast with special guest Dave Hamilton and discuss Apple's new iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, Apple Arcade, and Apple TV+. And we discuss changes to Apple's AppleCare extended warranty and insurance plan. Guest : Dave Hamilton Mac Observer Mac Geek Gab Podcast Show Notes : Apple updates iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad; gives info on Apple Arcade an...

Twitter's boss had his Twitter account hacked, and Twitter has disabled a feature from its earliest days, which let you tweet via SMS. Firefox's new update blocks trackers and crypto miners. And we take a look at audio and video deepfakes. Firefox 69 blocks third-party tracking cookies and cryptomining by default Hackers Tweeted Racial Slurs From Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey’s Account Chloë Grace Moret...

There's a recurring theme in security and privacy news lately, and that is the fact that everyone is listening. If you use Alexa, OK Google, or Siri, the companies behind these services listen to some of your requests (and sometimes when you don't explicitly ask their devices anything). There's news this week about companies listening and watching, along with some Apple updates, clickjacking scrip...

There's a question we get asked often: do Macs really need an antivirus? Many people think that Macs are immune to malware, or that security software companies even create malware to sell their products. We give a balanced answer to the question of whether you need to protect your Mac with an antivirus. Apple locked me out of its walled garden. It was a nightmare If You Lose Your iPhone, You Can’t...

Summer is when hackers get together to present and discuss malware, vulnerabilities, and exploits. Two big hacker conventions - Black Hat and DEF CON - were held recently, and we discuss some of the Mac-related discoveries. We also look at some interesting news, including certain Macs being banned by the FCC, and answer a listener question about ransomware and files on a Mac. Facebook admits to re...

Last week, we discussed how Apple was listening to some of your Siri requests. The company changed its policy, and Amazon and Google followed suit, but what else does Apple listen to? We also discuss Apple's new bug bounty program, how AT&T workers unlocked phones for profit, and how cryptojacking isn't financially viable any more. Apple suspends Siri response grading in response to privacy co...