During last week’s episode, our discussion centered around talking to your parents about the importance of computer security, and how to educate them on essential steps to take. This week, we’re going to move beyond the parents and look at their computers ourselves —with their…
November 16, 2017 • 16 min read
Remember back when you were a kid, and someone sat you down to have “The Talk”? It might have been your parents, or it could have been a teacher, but we’ve all been through the experience of learning about “the birds and the bees.” It’s a pivotal moment, and learning about the facts of life can be, well, life-changing. It’s also essential for keeping you safe as you continue to grow up. Well, now you’re grown — you’re older and definitely a little wiser. It might be time to sit down with your parents and have your own version of The Talk with them.
November 9, 2017 • 19 min read
For years, people laboured under the misconceptions that Apple hardware and operating systems were immune to the threats and malware faced by the people who use Windows. While macOS may be stronger in some respects, what made the Mac the safest was the fact that…
November 3, 2017 • 16 min read
When is your phone able to take a picture? Put that question to the average user and chances are they will say something about having the actual camera viewfinder on screen. Whether it’s from the default camera app, Instagram, or Facebook, we all expect that…
November 3, 2017 • 2 min read
The latest round of Apple security updates arrived on Halloween, delivering everything from iOS 11.1 to updates that affect macOS, watchOS, and more. As is often the case with large patch days, these updates address a wide variety of security flaws affecting different parts of…
October 31, 2017 • 2 min read
If you recently downloaded Elmedia Player or Folx—two Mac OS X programs from German-based developer Eltima Software—then your Mac may be infected with malware. According to a report from ZDNet, hackers recently managed to breach the Eltima Software servers. The hackers bundled Elmedia Player and…
October 30, 2017 • 3 min read
Our lives are on our computers and our phones: there’s no getting around that fact. One day, we might look back on that and view it as a mistake, but for now, our finances, health records, communications, family photos, videos, and more all live on…
October 28, 2017 • 11 min read
A recent rash of ransomware attacks has left some Apple users locked out of their Mac computers and iOS devices. The nature of the attacks led some users to wonder if Apple itself had suffered some kind of hack. The good news is that the…
October 27, 2017 • 3 min read
As in previous years, Apple’s 2017 September keynote brought device announcements, new feature introductions, and other headline-worthy events. What’s different this year, though, is that it also prompted the United States Senate to contact Apple about security and privacy concerns. Those concerns surrounded the announcement…
October 26, 2017 • 3 min readYou’re encountering problems with a program on your Mac, and you think it’s a bug, glitch, or potential security issue. What should you do next?
October 25, 2017 • 16 min read
Today, we’ll be tackling a couple of buzzwords in the tech industry today: blockchains and Bitcoins. Not unlike HTTPS and botnets, blockchain and Bitcoin are terms that are starting to seep into everyday use. Before we all start using them, though, we should figure out…
October 19, 2017 • 12 min readWho wants information about you? Digital security practices revolve in large part around restricting your data based on the answer to that question. We try to protect our systems so that only those with authorization can access sensitive personal information of all kinds. Most frequently,…
October 17, 2017 • 2 min readIf you use iOS, you are used to the Apple popups that ask you to enter your Apple ID password. These popups are standard any time you go to download a new application from the App Store, login into iCloud, or buy a song on…
October 16, 2017 • 3 min read
This week on the Checklist, we take on some of your questions and comments. Topics include: – Scam pop-us – App specific password requirements – Issues with SS7 – Oddity around an email address.
October 12, 2017 • 14 min read
Part 1 of a 2 episode series where we go over various questions from our listeners!
October 5, 2017 • 18 min readThis past May, a malicious software attack known as WannaCrypt (or WannaCry, depending on your source) hit the computer systems at major organizations and businesses around the globe. WannaCrypt is a ransomware attack. Once it infects a machine or computer system, it encrypts all the…
October 1, 2017 • 3 min readWhile the iPhone’s fingerprint scanner and its associated TouchID functionality provide a wealth of convenience to users, it also brings some unique security challenges. Biometric data is one of the most personally identifiable and irreplaceable types of information out there. While someone who steals your…
September 29, 2017 • 2 min read
This week, we’re tackling threats to your online privacy as well as online threats to your physical privacy.
September 28, 2017 • 19 min readFor power users, nothing is quite as useful in the macOS ecosystem as the Terminal app. Whether you are working on a simple project or trying to create extensively customized functionality for your machine, it opens many doors for the savvy user. Those same users…
September 28, 2017 • 3 min read