New Linux Malware Appears, Infects Some Macs Along the Way

While the average user might think their operating system options only go so far as “PC or Mac”, the truth is that there are many more systems running behind the scenes which power a great deal of our digital infrastructure. Linux is one such system, used by hobbyists, computer enthusiasts, and enterprises to power all kinds of servers and back-end systems. Naturally, it follows that there would be malware for Linux too — though it is rarer than most. According to a story making the rounds on ZDNet and BleepingComputer, …

2019 Kicks Off with several Apple Security Issues

The year may not yet even be a few weeks old, but already the headlines have been crowded with a range of issues that Apple users would do well to notice. From malware slipping past Gatekeeper to a mysteriously cancelled hacker conference appearance, there’s plenty to take in this January. What do you need to know about the latest in Mac news?

First, watch out for more suspicious phone calls that seem like they’re coming from Apple. Phishing scammers have apparently taken to spoofing Apple’s identity and are making calls to …

What’s in Apple’s Latest Security Digest?

Apple recently released a comprehensive set of security updates, affecting devices and applications ranging from the iPhone to the Apple Watch to iTunes to the Apple TV. Below, we have outlined some basic details about these updates, including the devices they are intended for and the security problems they fix.

APPLE-SA-2018-12-06-1 watchOS 5.1.2

This update for watchOS addresses numerous security vulnerabilities that could be exploited to gain or elevate privileges, to execute arbitrary code, to spoof the watch interface, or to present untrusted configurations as verified or trustworthy.

APPLE-SA-2018-12-05-7 Shortcuts 2.1.2

Apple has not …

SecureMac’s PrivacyScan 1.9.5 Brings Powerful Privacy Protections to Mojave

Las Vegas, Nevada – How many companies are tracking where you go online right now? Answering that question isn’t easy, but one thing is sure: it’s not a small number, and it’s growing! From third-party advertisers to social media giants, tracking users is common-place across the web.

With headlines about major security breaches and privacy failures appearing with increasing frequency, Mac users can be left wondering: what can I do about this? It starts with protecting one’s private browsing data and eliminating troublesome tracking cookies. To help users …

Apple Releases, Updates macOS Mojave and iOS 12, But Bricks Some Users’ Watches

In early September, Apple achieved two milestone releases: the arrival of iOS 12 for mobile devices and macOS Mojave for the desktop environment. Along with a host of bug fixes, both operating systems pushed their security hardening forward. Most notably, users on macOS can now trust that applications won’t gain access to the full contents of their hard disk without permission. While the changes do add the potential for dialog box fatigue and has impacted the operation of some software, it’s in line with Apple’s continued efforts to lock down …

Hacking Fax Machines? It Can Happen, and Mac Users Could Be Vulnerable

The average person, when they think about fax machines, probably puts them into the same class of technology as dial-up Internet — old, obsolete, and supplanted by more advanced technology. That last component, though, isn’t really true for the humble fax. In fact, many industries, including the medical sector, still rely heavily on fax machines for sending huge volumes of information daily. However, many of the fax machines in use today are not standalone devices, as they were in the 1980s; instead, they’re a component of all-in-one printers and scanners. …

Security Researcher Accidentally Stumbles on a Way for Malware to Click “OK” For you

One of the simplest ways to stay safe and secure on your Mac is to pay close attention to the warnings and prompts that the system often pops up when you’re in the middle of things. Many times, you might even expect these prompts to appear. It’s just macOS’s way of saying, “Hey, are you sure about that?” when something involves sensitive files or has extensive permissions. When you aren’t expecting them, they’re even more important: as your first line of defense, they can be a big red flag …

Apple’s July Security Updates Correct a Host of Problems

It’s that time again: Apple has pushed out a variety of updates for practically all its products, from iTunes for Windows to multiple flavors of macOS, plus the latest version of iOS 11.4. New security updates are also available for iCloud for Windows, Safari, watchOS, and tvOS. What should you know about these updates?

First, iOS 11.4.1 finally includes the much-discussed USB Restricted Mode, a new security feature that aims at making it more difficult for law enforcement agencies and others from using phone-cracking devices to break past a …

Apple Supplements macOS Security Update to Address Wide-Reaching Flaw

Only a few weeks after the recent release of macOS High Sierra 10.13.4, Apple has amended the update by publishing an additional fix under this version number. Addressing a new flaw described as “serious” by the security community, the supplemental version of 10.13.4 addresses a problem in Intel CPUs discovered near the end of April that affects a broad number of devices, including Windows and Linux machines. However, unlike the Spectre and Meltdown flaws that caused much concern due to their so-called “unpatchable” nature, there is a way to …

Latest Round of Apple Security Updates Includes iOS 11.3

After more than a month since the last big “patch day” for Apple products, the Cupertino company has now released to the public a new slew of updates that bring with them both new features and enhanced security. Covering everything from a new and essential update to iOS to important bug fixes in macOS, watchOS, and even Apple’s Xcode, these patches slam shut several open doors hackers might use to wreak havoc. Overall, these patches contain more than 90 fixes. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you can expect when …

Apple Pushes Range of Updates for Quality of Life and Security

Alongside Apple’s recent updates to macOS Sierra and OS X El Capitan to address the Spectre and Meltdown vulnerabilities, the final week of January also saw the release of a variety of other incremental updates for most of Apple’s products. Typically, Apple does not disclose detailed descriptions of the security vulnerabilities they fix in these updates, preferring to speak in vague terms to avoid exposing attack vectors that are still open on un-patched systems. However, we do know a little about what went into some of these updates besides …

Apple Patches MacOS High Sierra Login Vulnerability

“Is Apple getting sloppy?”

That was the headline of a BBC article published on Wednesday, November 29th, 2017, reporting the discovery of a major security issue in Apple’s MacOS High Sierra operating system. It seems that a bug within the OS made it possible for anyone to access a High Sierra computer by exploiting a simple login loophole.

Usually, when you login as a user on a Mac, you must enter your username and password. On machines running High Sierra, though, it was possible to enter “root” as the username, …