Apple Releases Security Updates for macOS

Apple recently released security updates across many of its products.

Apple Pushes Latest Round of Updates for a Variety of Products

It’s here: the latest round of updates for Apple products has arrived, and it’s a doozy. This series of updates is jam-packed with bug fixes and security updates that iPhone, iPad, and Mac users should all download right away to begin taking advantage of their added safety improvements. Products included in this set of updates are as follows:

Safari (12.1) tvOS (12.2) macOS Mojave (10.14.4) macOS High Sierra (Update 2019-002) macOS Sierra (Update 2019-002) iOS (12.2)

If you are using versions prior to those listed above, it’s time to update. Check your …

Google Shares Details about a New macOS Vulnerability

On Friday, March 1, 2019, Google’s Project Zero announced that it had discovered a “high severity” vulnerability in Apple’s macOS operating system. The Project Zero team constantly works to find vulnerabilities in software and code from other companies and developers. When Project Zero does identify a weakness, it notifies the coder or developer behind the software. The developer then has a 90-day window to fix the issue before Project Zero announces the vulnerability to the world. In other words, Apple has known about this issue for a while and has …

Apple Releases a Fix for Group FaceTime Bug — Update Now

After a couple of weeks of uncertainty following the announcement of a severe privacy flaw in one of Apple’s flagship features for iOS 12, a patch nearly entirely dedicated to fixing the problem is available for download. Relevant updates are included in iOS 12.1.4, a Supplemental Update to macOS Mojave 10.14.3, and a minor update to Shortcuts on iOS to version 2.1.3.

Let’s recap how we got here:

A teenager playing Fortnite with his friends sends FaceTime calls to multiple people.In the process, he discovers a bug, easy to execute, that allows …

Latest Round of Security Updates Arrives for Apple Devices

It’s here: the first array of security updates in the new year for everything from macOS to iOS. These updates don’t roll out any brand new bells and whistles or slick new features, but they do address a host of flaws that require a fix. Systems affected by these new updates include:

iOS (new version: 12.1.13)macOS Mojave (10.14.13)Sierra and High Sierra tvOS (12.1.2)Safari (12.0.3)watchOS (5.1.3)

Typically, Apple does not typically disclose extensive details about what specific attacks were possible and addressed by the bug fixes, or loopholes closed in these latest versions. However, …

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 …

Passcode Bypass Exploit for iOS 12.1 Appears Just After Release

Just a few hours after Apple released iOS 12.1 – which contained a few new features and a large slate of bug fixes – a security researcher identified a new privacy flaw. The researcher, Jose Rodriguez, recently made headlines a few weeks ago after identifying a problem with Siri similar to this new vulnerability. In both cases, an unauthorized user could access restricted information by bypassing a user’s PIN passcode. Though the exploits require physical access to your device to execute, they can result in the exposure of photos (in …

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. …

Major macOS Mail App Harbors Major Vulnerabilities

How do you manage your email? For those who receive a high volume of messages every day and depend on their email for work purposes, answering this question is essential. Most stock mail clients don’t always offer the capabilities you need from them; for that reason, many people choose to use third-party email management programs. macOS users are no exception. However, it is important to be aware that this software, like any other, can put your data at risk if the developers fail to take appropriate security measures. That appears …

1Password Implements New Feature to Keep Travelers’ Passwords Safe

Over the past several years, international travel has become fraught with more privacy and security concerns than ever before. At many borders, including those in the United States, customs agents are increasingly asking travelers to unlock their phones and hand over their laptops for inspection. Government agencies claim this is an anti-terrorism measure, as well as being aimed at combating fraud and trafficking in illegal materials. For many, this feels like an invasion of privacy.

For those with password managers on their devices, this is an especially big concern. …