Category: Apple

Spyware has been infecting Macs for years

While Macs have a reputation for being more secure than Windows PCs, they are far from immune. Over the past decade, a piece of malware designed to spy on its victims’ computers has remained unnoticed until quite recently. What’s worse is that security experts are still unsure about how the malware gets into Mac computers. Here’s everything we know so far.

Fruitfly spyware
The spyware, known as Fruitfly, was first discovered in January 2017, but Synack chief security expert, Patrick Wardle, discovered a more cunning variant last month.

Along with being able to track the victims’ names and locations, the spyware reportedly gives the hacker control over webcams, mice, microphones, keyboards, and notifies hackers any time the computer is in use. This enables hackers to take non-consensual photos, capture screenshots, track keystrokes, and record audio.

What’s surprising is this type of spyware is not built for financial gain or designed to steal government secrets. It’s used to spy on regular people. According to experts, the hacker developed the spyware for voyeuristic reasons. Collecting private data from users also suggests that hackers planned to set up more targeted social engineering scams.

So far, there have been only 400 confirmed Fruitfly infections, but considering how it has remained hidden for nearly decade, that number could be much larger.

While experts are still not sure who created the malware and how it is delivered, it’s best to follow security best practices like avoiding pop-up ads, banners and suspicious file attachments, using extreme caution when downloading free software, and update applications frequently.

Users should also install anti-malware software with spyware detection capabilities and perform full system scans as often as possible. New security patches have been released to detect and block Fruitfly variants, so you should keep your security software up to date at all times, too.

Surge in Mac Malware
Windows PCs are targeted more frequently, but a recent threat intelligence report by McAfee found that the Mac malware incidents have grown by 53% over the first quarter of 2017.

Hackers will likely uncover new vulnerabilities in the future, which means Mac users can no longer afford to think that their device doesn’t need strong security software and support from managed services providers.

If you’re worried about the security of your Mac, talk to us today. We offer comprehensive solutions that can defend against the new Fruitfly strain and a host of other cyberattacks.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

Best Mac tips and shortcuts

Mac operating systems are known for their intuitive user interface with minimal learning curve. But did you know that over the years, Macs have been equipped with a bunch of new shortcuts and hidden features? Here are our picks of the ones guaranteed to make life easier.

Use Siri to change your Mac’s system settings

Rather than going through your computer’s System Preferences menus to find the setting you require, you can use Siri to quickly make these changes. Simply activate Siri by pressing command + spacebar and then say out loud the changes you want, such as “increase brightness” or “turn on bluetooth”.

You can even ask how much hard drive space is left to determine your computer’s available storage.

Copy and paste between devices

Universal Clipboard is an extension feature that was first introduced in the Mac OS X El Capitan and has now made its way to macOS Sierra. With this time-saving tool, you can cut and copy items on your macOS and iOS devices, and paste them onto other devices. These include text, images, and even videos without having to use AirDrop or email.

To enable Universal Clipboard, simply turn on Bluetooth on your Mac and iPhone and make sure both devices are logged in using the same Apple ID. Then press Control + C on your Mac and then hold down and select Paste on your iPhone, or vice versa.

Sync Desktops on multiple Macs

Another new feature in the macOS Sierra syncs desktops across iCloud. This means you can go to your iCloud Drive on any device and access the files and folders on your desktop. You can also access your Documents folder on your desktops too. All this depends on is the amount of storage space you have on your iCloud.

To sync your Desktop, go to System Preferences > iCloud. Make sure the iCloud Drive is selected at the top and click on Options. From there, select Desktop & Documents to share those files. iCloud will then upload these files to the cloud, allowing you to access them on other Macs from anywhere with an internet connection. Just go to iCloud.com, log on, and open the Desktop folder there.

Autocap and full stop on your Mac

The Sierra operating system features the auto capitalization of the first word of a sentence as well as the auto-added full stop when you press space twice, a feature that many iPhone users rely on. To activate it, head to System Preferences > Keyboard > Text, and select: ‘Capitalize words automatically’, and ‘Add period with double-space’.

Once these two options are ticked, the necessary capitals and full stops will automatically be added in TextEdit, Pages, and other relevant apps.

Use your trackpad to sign things

Thanks to the magical feature of trackpad, you can now sign PDFs within Preview. Just open the PDF you need to sign and click on the toolbox icon at the top right of the Preview toolbar. Then click the signature icon that looks like a squiggle beneath it, make sure the Trackpad tab is selected, and click Create Signature.

Once done, you can select the signature from the menu and drag it to wherever you want it to appear.

Quickly free up space

macOS Sierra features a number of options available to help you free up storage space. Start by clicking on the Apple logo on the top left of your screen, then click About This Mac > Storage > Manage.

You can choose to store files and photos in iCloud and only keep recently opened files and optimized photos on your Mac as required. You can also choose Optimized Storage, which helps you save space by removing iTunes movies and TV shows and only keeps your recent email attachments. Last but not least, you can choose for your trash to be emptied periodically.

Save battery

The latest macOS Sierra can warn you if your display brightness is too high so you can make adjustments to save battery life. If you click on the battery icon in the top menu bar, you’ll be greeted by a drop down menu that shows your current power source and highlights apps that are draining your computer’s battery. From there, you can choose whether to cut down on those apps or not.

These are some of the tips and hidden features that Mac operating systems have to offer. As always, if you’d like to learn about how Apple products can drive value for your business, or have any questions at all, just give us a call.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

Old Mac malware gets a facelift

In yet another sign that Apple computers are no longer being ignored by hackers, a successful piece of Windows-based malware has been rewritten for MacOS. Instead of encrypting data and holding it for ransom, OSX.Dok skips the extortion and simply steals your bank account information. Read on to learn what you can do to prevent an infection.

OSX.Dok isn’t new, but it has been improved

Originally, this Mac-based malware looked very different. When OSX.Dok was first reported several months ago, it could infect only older versions of the Apple operating system. Besides being relegated to OS X, it didn’t do much more than simply spy on the internet history of its victims. More recently, however, OSX.Dok was updated to target the newer macOS and to steal banking information.

How does it work?

Like so many malware programs today, this particular threat is distributed via phishing emails. Because the end goal is to acquire private financial information, these emails pretend to have pressing information about taxes or bank statements stored in attachments that actually contain malicious software.

Once any of these attachments are opened, OSX.Dok secretly broadcasts information about the computer and its location to the malware’s authors. Based on that information, hackers can redirect victims that visit banking websites to copycat URLs tailored to their language and location. Almost everything on the copycat sites looks exactly the same, but when you submit your user ID and password, they go straight to hackers.

Worst of all, the latest version of this malware seems to be incredibly advanced. It actively changes the way it hides itself and even modifies system settings to keep the computer from checking for operating system and security updates.

What can I do?

Security experts are still working on a way to combat OSX.Dok, but believe that it will remain a problem for some time to come. For now there are a few things you can do:

Never open attachments from people you don’t know personally, and even then be wary of anything you weren’t expecting.
Pay attention to little details. For example, copyright dates at the bottom of fake banking sites only went to 2013.
Look closely at the lock to the left of URLs in your address bar. Fake websites may have security certificates with names slightly different from those of the sites they mimic.

The best way to stay ahead of threats like OSX.Dok is by partnering with a capable IT provider. That way you can be sure that you have all the latest software and hardware to keep you safe. Even if something managed to slip through, regular audits are sure to find infections sooner than an overburdened in-house team would. Call us today to find out how we can protect you!

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

macOS High Sierra’s new features

High Sierra — Mac’s first full OS upgrade since Snow Leopard in 2009 — has finally been released as public beta. But users who expect shiny new features might feel slightly disappointed as the new OS’ most useful updates are actually under the hood. To that end, let’s take a look at what’s new in macOS High Sierra.

Photos

Photos gets the most visual upgrade designed to improve user experience especially for those with numerous pictures to browse through. The toolbar has been revamped and is now customizable, allowing you to re-order sections. Media is now organized by content type, like Bursts, Live Photos, Panoramas and more.

Apple has also brought in a new editing tool with plenty of filters and basic photo-editing features like Curves, a color adjusting tool, and Selective Color, a dropper tool that allows you to choose a certain color and manipulate it according to its hue, saturation, etc. What’s more, if you’re already using other photo-editing software like Photoshop or Pixelmator, you’ll now be able to open images on those programs directly through Photos. No more going back and forth over importing images.

High Sierra’s new editing tools will also be available in the iPhone’s Live Photo feature, allowing you to crop and adjust the color of animated images in the toolbar.

Safari

Safari’s settings now feature a Website pane that allows you to customize the way you interact with different sites. You can make a site always appear in Reader Mode, shut off autoplay, apply content blockers, and more.

But the real excitement comes with Intelligent Tracking Prevention, a new feature that uses machine learning to remove cross-site tracking. This is ideal for sites with annoying tracking tendencies and eliminates things like advertising cookies, so the things you shopped for don’t follow you to every site you visit.

Useful contextual information, however, is saved for pages you actually visit so not all will be lost. This feature is activated by default but you can disable it in Safari’s settings.

New file system

Introduced at the last WWDC, Apple’s new file system, known as Apple File System (APFS), is finally seeing the light of day with High Sierra. Apple claims that APFS is a crucial component in making High Sierra its fastest operating system ever.

What’s so special about APFS? Speed, efficiency, and security. Copying large files now runs almost instantly on Apple File, plus it supports far more files than ever, letting you put nine quintillion of them onto a single volume. It’s also backwards compatible with all of your current formatted drives and features multikey encryption that integrates with all of your Apple devices.

Be warned that installation could take some time. This is because High Sierra is converting your boot drive to support the new file system. While Apple is confident that all your files will be intact, we recommend you conduct a full system backup prior to installation just to be on the safe side.

Other minor upgrades

  • Siri: You can expect a new voice for Siri just in time for the arrival of Apple’s HomePod, the company’s take on smart home assistants.
  • Metal 2: Apple’s graphics API gets VR and external GPUs support.
  • Mail: Messages are compressed differently to ensure they use up to 35 percent less space than before.
  • Spotlight: Finder’s built-in search now features flight tracking (also added to Safari). Just type in a flight number and it will provide relevant information like status, delays, gates, etc.
  • FaceTime: You can now snap a Live Photo-style moving screenshot of your conversation with another person while FaceTiming.
  • Messages: Conversations are now automatically stored in iCloud to improve syncing across Apple devices and free up local storage space.

While macOS High Sierra might not be the most exciting upgrade in Apple history, it’s an imperative one focused on refining an existing product, one that builds a solid foundation for Apple’s future technology. If you’d like to know more about other Apple products and how they can drive value for your business, just give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

Apple iOS 11: Focus on enterprise users

The iPad was originally created for individual consumers even though it was later adopted as a viable productivity tool. After several functionality and style changes, Apple has finally released an iPad that could rival the PC: the iPad Pro. The latest update in Apple’s lineup of tablet computers is a vast departure from previous iPad devices, and with the recently announced changes in the upcoming iOS 11, the company looks poised to shift its focus from individual to enterprise users.

From mobile to desktop

Apple’s iOS platform was originally designed for mobile devices, but the company is making its mobile operating system more desktop-friendly. In the upcoming iOS 11, users can expect a user interface (UI) that’s very similar to a Mac desktop UI with substantial capabilities like multi-tasking, which will allow users to view programs in a split/slide view.

The Files app for iOS will be particularly useful for businesses that use various cloud storage platforms such as Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive. With this handy new app in iOS 11, all files can be accessed, downloaded, and shared within one single platform using your iPad. This app will be very similar to the Finder folder in Mac.

Other notable features

Aside from the multi-tasking capability and the Files app, the new enterprise user-friendly OS will provide users with Drag and Drop capability — previously unavailable to iPad. Instead of having all apps displayed on the screen, users can now enjoy a docking system that Mac users will find familiar. Existing Apple enterprise users will find the new iOS more in-tune with their needs, as switching from one device to another will be more seamless.

What businesses can expect

Whether Apple’s major redesign will be enough to convince non-iOS device users to switch is yet to be determined. It’s also uncertain whether more enterprise tools can be expected from later versions. What’s certain is that Apple has introduced enhancements to the iPad Pro that are significant enough to make it a formidable choice as a standalone enterprise computer.

Many businesses already use an iPad in the workplace, and with these enhancements, integration of mobile and desktop functionality will be more seamless across all Apple devices. This may also prove to be a significant shift for the iPad from being a secondary computing device that displays content to being a primary computer that’s used for creating content.

Apple has always been focused on individual preferences rather than an entire market segment. But with the iOS 11, it is enterprise users who have the most to look forward to. If you need intelligent recommendations on device and usability features on both mobile and desktop devices, call us today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

6 Mac security tips and tricks

Although well aware of its importance, users still overlook Mac security. This might be excusable if you’re using your device just to watch cooking shows or to experiment with PhotoBooth, but not if it’s being used in day-to-day business operations. Deter internal and external threats from compromising your device with these tips:

The basics
Let’s start with the basics and head over to the Security & Privacy pane in System Preferences. Here, you’ll find four tabs — General, FileVault, Firewall, and Privacy — that control various aspects of security. To change your security settings, click on the padlock on the bottom of the screen and type in your username and password.

Firewall
Enabling the firewall will block unwanted incoming network connections. Many think it is enabled by default, but often it’s not. All you need to do is click the Firewall tab in the System Preferences > Security & Privacy pane, click the padlock icon on the bottom left, enter your username and password, and click the ‘Turn On Firewall’ button. Don’t forget to enable Stealth Mode by clicking the Firewall Options button and then clicking Enable Stealth Mode in the dialog box — this makes your computer invisible on public networks.

Passwords
Make sure to set strong passwords for your user accounts if you don’t already have one. To do this, go back to the ‘General’ section of the Security & Privacy settings. In this section, you should also consider setting the Require Password field to ‘immediately.’ This makes it so that you’ll need to re-enter your login credentials to unlock your Mac when it goes to sleep or when a screen saver begins.

Automatic login
It’s best to disable this function, especially if you are using a mobile Mac. If your Mac gets stolen, you don’t want to give thieves a free pass to your private data.

Applications
At the bottom of the General Settings tab, there are three options that authorize which apps can run on your Mac. The safest option is to allow only apps from the App Store to run, and the least secure option is to allow apps from anywhere. Get the best of both worlds by choosing the option of running apps from the App Store and from developers known to Apple.

FileVault
The FileVault tab enables you to encrypt all the files in your user account. To decrypt them, you must enter either your account password or the recovery key you created when you switched FileVault on. It might be tedious to type in a password every time to access a file, but it helps keep your vital data under lock and key.

In this digital age, ensuring the protection of all your devices is crucial to your business’s success. Because all it takes is a tiny leak to sink your ship. Feel free to give us a call and we’ll help prepare your business for choppy waters.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

Mac HandBreak downloads infected by Trojan

macOS version of HandBrake, an open-source video transcoding software that converts multimedia files into various formats, was recently infected with a Trojan. According to HandBreak’s announcement, if you downloaded the app between May 2 (14:30 UTC) and May 6 (11:00 UTC), there’s a 50% chance that your system got infected. Read on to find out more.

How to know if your device was infected

HandBrake can be downloaded from its official website and via mirror sites, or sites that provide the same content as the primary site. Infected downloads came from the mirror site, download.handbrake.fr, where the installer file (HandBrake-1.0.7.dmg) was swapped with a Trojan file, OSX.PROTON. This malicious file managed to trick Apple’s security approval system into deeming it as safe and legitimate.

One way to find out whether you’ve downloaded the Trojan is to look for an “activity_agent” process in the macOS by accessing the Activity Monitor application. Another way is by checking whether the installer file’s checksums match HandBreak’s public codes. You can do this by comparing your downloaded file’s codes with the ones found on HandBreak’s checksums page. If they don’t match, that means you’ve downloaded an infected installer file. This all might sound like a lot of tech gobbledygook, but these checks are essential to knowing whether or not your system has been infected.

The damage

The OSX.PROTON is considered one of the nastiest Trojans today because it can spy on computers from a remote location. It can monitor your activities, upload malicious files on your computer, steal your password and confidential information by detecting keystrokes or taking screenshots, and take over your entire system by hacking your admin settings.

Downloading an innocuous video transcoding application is not typically considered dangerous. However, downloading apps from unofficial sources definitely poses considerable risks. In such a scenario, a backed up data can save your malware-infected computer.

Precautionary measures

Fortunately, Apple has taken steps to block further infections by releasing an update. If your system has been infected, however, it’s not too late. Follow HandBreak’s suggested steps in removing infected files to mitigate any damage. You should also take additional security measures such as changing passwords from a different device. Better yet, get professional help from IT security experts.

Every time you download an app from an unauthorized source, know that there are risks. If you’re a Mac user, download apps only from the Apple Store; and for Android users, only from the Google Play Store. And to gauge the safety of the apps you want to download, it always helps to read their reviews beforehand.

The HandBreak macOS malware is just one of many that are attacking vulnerable systems. With the help of our network security experts, you can thwart cyber attackers’ attempts to steal your sensitive data, hold your files for ransom, or spy on your online activities. Call us now so we can recommend suitable protections.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

New malware threats on Mac computers

No computer is safe from malware, not even Macs. Even though incidences of viruses and malware are rare for Apple computers, they can still occur with disastrous consequences. Based on one security software firm’s report, MacOS malware grew by 744% in 2016, but the number of attacks were still fewer than attacks on Windows computers. So even though they’re safer, you still need to know how your Mac is vulnerable to a growing number of malware threats.

How the new malware attacks Macs

The new strain of malware targeted at Macs is called OSX/Dok, which was first discovered in April 2017. OSX/Dok infiltrates Macs through phishing attacks, whereby users receive a suspicious email with a zip file attachment. Like all phishing attacks, it contains a message that tricks the recipient into opening the attachment purportedly about tax returns.

Mayhem ensues once the malware is in the system, gains administrator privileges, takes over encrypted communications, changes network settings, and performs other system tweaks that put the users at its mercy.

What the malware does

The malware targets mostly European networks, but it’s expected to spread into other regions. Even more alarming is its ability to bypass Gatekeeper, a security feature in the MacOS designed to fend off malware. This is because its developers were able to obtain a valid Apple developer certificate, which makes the attachment appear totally legitimate. Although Apple has addressed the issue by revoking the developer’s certificate of the earliest versions of the malware, the attackers remain persistent and now use a new developer ID.

How to avoid the mayhem

The Mac-targeted OSX/Dok malware is easy to avoid if you keep your wits about you when receiving zip files from unknown senders — these files should be treated as high-risk and be reported to your IT team, quarantined, or junked. Whether you’re using a Mac or a Windows computer, clicking on suspicious ads can download and install apps from third-party sources that put your system at risk.

Mac users are not completely safe, and complacency with security could only result in compromised and irreparable systems, ruined reputation, and lost profits for businesses. For this particular malware, a simple act of vigilance may be all it takes to avoid having your Apple computer bitten by bugs. If you want to double the layer of protection for your business’s Mac computers, call us for robust security solutions.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

Mac Pro gets revamped

Mac Pro users have long awaited the release date of the new workstation, and who could blame them when the current model has been available since 2013. Thankfully, Apple just confirmed that the revamped Mac Pro is on its way. From specs, features, and design changes, here’s the latest information we have about Apple’s high-end desktop.

Processor

The new Mac Pro is rumored to feature the next-generation Intel Xeon E5 processor. While the current models are configurable up to 3.5GHz for the six-core option, 3.0GHz for the eight-core option, and 2.7GHz for the 12-core option, the 2018 model could offer up to 14 or 18 cores per processor. What’s more, each model will likely come equipped with the Iris Pro Graphics P580, a highly powerful graphics processing unit (GPU) that will make heavy file renders a breeze.

However, there’s a small chance that Apple might abandon Intel chips altogether and move to AMD’s RYZEN 7 CPUs, which just set a new standard for high performing CPU processors.

RAM and storage

The new Intel Xeon chips are rumored to have DDR4 memory controllers, and if that’s true, you can expect uber fast memory and low latency without having to worry about issues with overheating. Currently, the 15-inch MacBook Pro comes with 16GB RAM, so it’s likely that you could expect the same RAM with the updated entry-level model of the Mac Pro. And because Apple knows that users usually work with very large files, an option for 2TB flash storage could be possible.

Ports

Claims that the new Mac Pro might offer more Thunderbolt ports in the form of USB-3 are also up in the air. This makes sense as it brings Thunderbolt to USB-C at 40Gbps which ensures faster data transfer speed.

While a number of users wish Apple would offer PCI slots so they could add faster SSDs and more powerful video cards, looking back at the company’s previous releases, we don’t think you should get your hopes up just yet.

Design

According to Apple, the triangular design of the Mac Pro’s thermal core was what limited them from offering updates to the machine. Because of that, we’ll probably see a completely new design in the 2018 model.

Prices

Apple just rolled out some minor updates to the current Mac Pro, including enhanced specs at lower price points. For the $2,999, you now get a 6-core Intel Xeon processor, dual AMD FirePro D500 GPUs and 16GB of memory. And for $3,999, you now get an 8-core processor and dual D700 GPUs.

Having said that, you can expect slightly higher prices for the new Mac Pro than the current models, like with most new Apple releases.

Release date

The timeframe is 2018, but keep in mind that the present Mac Pro was unveiled at WWDC in 2013 and supply was so restrained that people didn’t get theirs until the following spring. Therefore it’s highly possible that the new model will be launched at WWDC 2018 during summer and won’t probably ship until the end of the year.

Stay tuned for more updates on the new Mac Pro. And if you’d like to know more about other Apple products, or learn how they can streamline your operations, give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

What’s new in iOS 10.3?

Apple enthusiasts are always eager to get their hands on the latest Apple update, and after seven long beta versions, they’re finally getting their wish. The new iOS 10.3 update, which is available on current iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch models, comes with new built-in features and bug fixes. To save you some time looking through all the patch notes, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features.

Find my AirPods
Since the new wireless headphones are so small and easy to misplace, Apple released the Find my AirPods feature.

To track your AirPods, simply open the Find iPhone app and look for “AirPods” under your list of Apple devices. From there, you can see where your AirPods are located on a map and even make them emit noise, provided you’re within a certain radius of the bluetooth earphones.

Siri updates
With iOS 10.3, Apple’s digital assistant can now understand and perform more voice requests. With electronic payment apps, you can request Siri to automatically pay bills and track your account status. If you have Uber or other ride hailing apps installed, you can schedule a lift simply by asking Siri, “I need a lift to [location].” You can even check your car’s fuel levels and lock status with automaker apps.

Apple Maps
The newly updated Maps can now display hourly weather updates for your destination and even track the location for your parked car, in case you’ve forgotten where you left it in a crowded lot.

Apple File System (APFS)
One of the biggest changes in iOS 10.3 is the introduction of the APFS, a system that controls how data is stored and retrieved. This new file system replaces the 20-year-old HFS+, which was originally designed for devices with floppy drives! Unlike its predecessors, APFS saves 1-7 GB of storage space, provides better data backups, supports easier file recovery, offers data encryption, and is optimized for Flash/SSD.

Security updates
Meanwhile, iOS 10.3 has received much needed security updates. iPhones and iPads will now actively warn users if they have 32-bit apps installed and request that they update to more secure 64-bit versions.

Additionally, Apple has secured around 100 vulnerabilities, including a bug which allowed cybercriminals to spam Safari users with an endless stream of ‘Cannot Open Page’ pop-ups unless they pay the attacker an iTunes gift card.

Although iOS 10.3 didn’t offer any revolutionary built-in applications, it did make some nice quality-of-life adjustments for iPhone 5, 6, 7, and iPad users. Knowing Apple, we think more optimizations will be rolled out until the big iOS 11 update, but until then take the time to enjoy more storage space, better security, and the new Siri voice commands.

If you want the latest Apple developments, contact us today to be the first to know!

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.