Ransomware, malware, DDoS attacks… Those are the kinds of things we tend to think of when someone says the work “hacker” today. That’s not what the word used to mean, though. We’re doing a bit of hacker history on today’s checklist, looking at Apple’s hacker roots and how that led to the ever growing Apple ecosystem.
June 8, 2017 • 16 min read
The theft of smartphones is a large problem, especially with high-value items like iPhones. Whether a thief takes a phone to use or to resell, they’ll need to wipe the device first. Normally, the iPhone passcode and access control restrictions prevent that from happening. Meanwhile,…
June 6, 2017 • 2 min readEver wonder how to become a computer security expert? On this edition of The Checklist, we’re looking at ways that anyone with a drive for it can pick up computer security skills and start down the path to becoming a computer security professional.
June 1, 2017 • 19 min readLas Vegas, Nevada — With malware making headlines nearly every week, users everywhere wonder how to keep their computers safe. Today, SecureMac released the latest version of its flagship security software, MacScan 3.1. Since its initial release over a year ago, MacScan 3 has led…
May 30, 2017 • 4 min readPeople with an extensive DVD or Blu-Ray collection can enjoy a wide variety of media at home, but what happens when you want to take it with you? The simple solution is to “rip” your favorite DVDs to create digital media files you can play…
May 30, 2017 • 3 min readThe world saw one of the largest ransomware attacks conducted so far just a couple of weeks ago. The story has captured public attention for longer than most digital security stories, and for good reason. From its shadowy origins to its very visible effects, the ransomware known as ‘WannaCrypt’ or ‘WannaCry’ is the topic for today’s edition of The Checklist.
May 25, 2017 • 18 min readThere are bad guys out there who want to trick you into giving them your sensitive information. “Phishing,” as this practice of impersonation is known, is nothing new. With so much money flowing online and so much personal data available, more and more people are going phishing, which is the topic for today’s episode!
May 18, 2017 • 12 min readWe are only halfway through Spring 2017 here in the states, and yet the season has already seen a lot of news-making malware. On today’s Checklist, we’ll break down the latest developments and cover what you need to know — and, where possible, how you can protect yourself.
May 11, 2017 • 19 min readThis week we’re talking to you: Part II! It’s been awhile since our last Q&A episode, but the questions haven’t stopped coming in… and on today’s show we’ll answering questions sent in by listeners like you.
May 4, 2017 • 13 min readOur phones today are home to dozens of apps providing both entertainment and utility. Each of these apps requests permissions from the system to access certain types of data. Apple makes it easy to see what apps use which permissions through the settings page on…
May 1, 2017 • 2 min readDid you know that your Mac has a powerful suite of built-in sharing tools? Some of them are pretty straightforward, but others could used a bit more explanation. On today’s episode, we’ll cover the macOS Sharing Preferences: what you can do with them, and the potential impact they can have on your Mac’s security.
April 27, 2017 • 15 min readWhat happens if you forget the password for your Mac? The good news is, your data is safe… the bad news is… you can’t have it. Luckily, there’s a lot you can do to try to get back into your Mac if you’ve forgotten your password. We’ll look at some of those on today’s Checklist.
April 20, 2017 • 10 min readWith the huge volume of ads displayed on sites across the Web today, it’s no surprise that bad actors view them as a window to reach vulnerable users. A new malvertising threat has appeared for iOS users. This time, it’s not about infecting your iOS…
April 17, 2017 • 3 min readMost people already have shadow profiles on social media platforms, and they didn’t even set them up… because that’s not how they work. On today’s show, we’ll take a closer look at what Shadow profiles are, how they’re used, and the potential privacy concerns they raise.
April 13, 2017 • 12 min readAt the end of March, Apple released iOS 10.3 for users of the iPhone, iPad, and iPad Touch. The update was sizable, bringing multiple new features to iOS devices. However, just a week after iOS 10.3 arrived, Apple pushed out iOS 10.3.1. The latest update…
April 7, 2017 • 3 min readSpring is here, and you know what that means… It’s time for some spring cleaning! Over time and with continuous use, your hard drive can end up just as messy and disorganized as a lived-in home after a long winter. On today’s episode we’ll cover steps you can take to clean up and organize your Mac!
April 6, 2017 • 12 min readLas Vegas, Nevada, April 6, 2017 — Spring is here, and that means spring cleaning for many. To aid users in controlling their digital footprint and managing disk space, SecureMac has announced its newest update to PrivacyScan with version 1.9.3. This update to the award-winning application,…
April 6, 2017 • 3 min read
When Apple revealed its long-awaited refresh of the MacBook line last year, the Touch Bar was touted as a major selling point. By incorporating the same sensor technology already present in the iPhone, Apple said that a wide variety of new applications were available. From…
March 30, 2017 • 2 min readAs helpful as the convenience of storing data in “the Cloud” can be, there are lots of examples of problems with cloud services causing disruption for individuals and for businesses. What happens when “the Cloud” goes bad? That’s our topic for this edition of The Checklist. We’ll look at problems you might encounter when using iCloud, as well as some of the broader issues with cloud computing in general.
March 30, 2017 • 10 min read
No one likes to contend with pop-up windows, no matter what the context. Once a mainstay of advertising on the web, pop-ups today mostly remain only on less refined websites. Many users also associate pop-up windows with malware infection — and that isn’t a wrong…
March 23, 2017 • 2 min read