When you suspect your Mac is infected, it’s important to take steps to find and fix the problem before the issue becomes severe — or worse, before your personal information is stolen. On today’s episode, we’ll look at the process you should follow if you think your Mac is suffering from a malware infection.
March 9, 2017 • 9 min readThe last few months of 2016 were kind of quiet in terms of sightings of new Mac malware, but maybe that was just the calm before the storm. 2017 has already seen a plethora of newly discovered malware targeting the Mac. On today’s Checklist we’re covering five recent Mac malware threats and a bonus item: How to minimize those threats.
March 2, 2017 • 12 min read
Since last year’s emergence of KeRanger, the first functional ransomware for macOS, it seemed only a matter of time before more threats of that type appeared. Security researchers recently found the newest attempt at ransomware for the Mac out in the wild. Masquerading as a…
March 1, 2017 • 3 min read
The internet is an important fixture in our lives, but definitely comes with some potential paths to hazards and threats, especially for kids. So what can you do to keep your kids safe? If you’re using a Mac – or if your child is, Apple includes a lot of tools in macOS that can help out. Today on The Checklist, we’ll look at five of the most important things to know about built-in parental controls on your Mac and how to use them effectively.
February 23, 2017 • 8 min readA brand-new type of malware affecting Macs is in the wild, and this time there are definite signs of development in conjunction with a foreign nation. Designed (albeit rather poorly) to look like a Flash update, this malware, dubbed MacDownloader, is a unsophisticaed attempt to…
February 17, 2017 • 2 min readJust about everyone has a smartphone these days, and many parents see the benefits in providing their children with a phone to keep in touch, or in case of an emergency. Smartphone also make it easier for children to be exposed to cyberbullying or inappropriate content, so how do you keep a child safe on the phone? We’re going to explore this topic more in depth on today’s episode!
February 16, 2017 • 9 min read
How often do you check the permissions you grant to apps installed on your iPhone? Do you ever enter sensitive information into apps, like emails, passwords, and more? With apps of every type and nature available on smartphones, it’s all too easy to supply these…
February 16, 2017 • 3 min read
Regularly clearing the history of sites one has visited in a browser is a common habit for many users. It reduces digital clutter while also providing you with a degree of control over your privacy on the web. When you’ve cleared your history, no one…
February 14, 2017 • 2 min read
As a cultural phenomenon, emojis seem to be the natural evolution from more “old school” style emoticons. No longer just a small set of pictograms, emojis now compromise several hundred tiny digital images. Users pepper their text messages with them and fill up social media…
February 9, 2017 • 2 min readThe files on your Mac are more than “just data” — they’re your music, your vacation pics, that report that’s due for work or the video of your child’s first steps. On today’s episode, we’re going to cover specific steps you can take to keep your data safe and secure from prying eyes.
February 9, 2017 • 11 min readBeyond social media and online shopping sites, there’s a whole lot to the Internet that the average user simply can’t see. We’re talking, of course, about the so-called “dark web” which is only accessible with the Tor Browser. On today’s episode, we’ll be discussing this hidden side of the internet, and the special browser needed to access it.
February 2, 2017 • 10 min readThe latest item of Mac malware to be uncovered is actually not new at all; in fact, it may have been around for several years. Dubbed “Fruitfly” by Apple, this malware has some novel features. In particular, its function depends upon using both an outdated…
January 31, 2017 • 2 min readOn today’s episode of the Checklist podcast, we’ll run down some of the security apps which are “must-haves” for any user. We’ll cover what these apps do, what sets them apart, and why you’d be wise to have some of them installed on your Mac.
January 26, 2017 • 9 min read
For many users, Skype is often used to stay in touch with both friends and family as well as for business communications. Those who rely on Skype for Mac should be aware there was a recent discovery of a vulnerability in the application. Affecting Skype…
January 23, 2017 • 2 min readModern malware adopts a huge number of different forms, from the destructive to the secretive. Some will seek to damage your system, while others snoop around for personal information to steal. Because these are the types of malware infections that users most often encounter, it’s…
January 23, 2017 • 2 min readOn this podcast we frequently talk about the various “digital” defenses that you can set up to protect your Mac and iOS devices. Physically securing your devices is equally important, especially when it comes to protecting your data from prying eyes and grabbing hands in the “real world!” In today’s edition, we’ll cover what you need to know about physical security and some things you can do to improve your device’s safety.
January 19, 2017 • 8 min readVPNs (Virtual Private Networks) are one way you can take matters into your own hands and improve your privacy online. On today’s show, we’ll go over exactly what these are plus how you can use them on your Apple devices.
January 12, 2017 • 11 min readIn a recent article, we covered Apple’s App Transport Security (ATS) feature and the security benefits its implementation brings to users. Apple had set a deadline of January 1, 2017, by which all apps offered through the App Store needed to be ATS-compliant. We noted…
January 9, 2017 • 1 min read