Intego Mac Podcast

How iTunes Changed Apple

January 14th, 2021  |  33 mins 11 secs

iTunes is 20 years old. Even if, on the Mac, that name has been eclipsed, the iTunes brand still exists, and iTunes is one of the reasons that Apple is such a strong services company. We also look at some new AppleScript malware, how some millionaires are losing Bitcoin because they forgot their passwords, and discuss "brushing," a new semi-scam where people received Amazon deliveries they never ordered.

New Year’s Resolution: Cull Your Notifications

January 7th, 2021  |  32 mins 3 secs

There's new malware attacking cryptocurrency apps, WhatsApp warns users about data it is sharing with Facebook, and Apple loses a copyright fight with a company that virtualizes iOS so security researchers can look for vulnerabilities. We also look at how you can manage and secure notifications on your devices, so you don't get too distracted, and also so personal information isn't visible when your devices are locks.

A Brief History of Adobe Flash Player: From Multimedia to Malware

December 31st, 2020  |  31 mins 13 secs

On December 31, 2020, Adobe Flash Player is officially dead. This browser plugin, which provided multimedia content for the early internet, has been plagued by security issues, and became the most exploited vector for malware on the Mac. We look back on 25 years of Flash.

Looking Back on the Year in Apple Security

December 24th, 2020  |  32 mins 32 secs

As the year ends, we look back on the security issues that arose in 2020, including malware that bypassed Apple's checks, Flash Player malware, and malware that specifically targeted Mac developers.

Understanding Apple’s App Privacy Information

December 17th, 2020  |  35 mins 7 secs

Apple has introduced new app privacy information on its app stores, explaining how developers collect data. We also look at this week's Apple updates, including one for iOS 12, and even iCloud for Windows. And we discuss how Google is manipulating links in emails, ostensibly to protect users.

What Do You Want for Christmas?

December 10th, 2020  |  35 mins 16 secs

Apple announces new over-the-ear headphones, AirPods Max, and we discuss whether these meet the needs of our hosts. Apple doubles down on anti-tracking rules, and WhatsApps complains about Apple's coming "nutrition labels" about data collection in apps. And Apple and Cloudflare have come up with a new way of sending DNS requests that protects privacy.

A Week with the New MacBook Air

December 3rd, 2020  |  36 mins 50 secs

We discuss how new security features in macOS Big Sur can make it difficult to install certain apps. We talk about Amazon Sidewalk, a feature that will share your bandwidth from Amazon devices. We look at an astounding remote wi-fi exploit that could have let hackers access your iPhone. And Kirk discusses his first week with the new MacBook Air, which has surprised him.

Black Friday; Securely Dispose of Your Old Mac; The HomePod mini

November 26th, 2020  |  33 mins 52 secs

With Black Friday coming up, we give some tips on buying older devices that may be insecure. We discuss how to audit your subscriptions with Apple, so you don't pay for what you're no longer using. We look at how to securely dispose of a Mac when you're selling or giving it away. And we talk about the new HomePod mini: is it the right smart speaker for you?

How To Prepare Your Mac for macOS Big Sur

November 19th, 2020  |  32 mins 56 secs

Apple released macOS Big Sur last week. On release day, there were a number of issues, including problems launching apps on Macs. We discuss what happened, and how Apple is changing its Gatekeeper security check. We also talk about when you should upgrade to Big Sur and how you should prepare your Mac for the big upgrade.

Apple Launches New Macs, and Big Sur Arrives

November 12th, 2020  |  34 mins 8 secs

Apple announced three new Macs with its own processors, the first of a transition of the complete line of Macs to Apple silicon that should be complete in about two years. At the same time, macOS Big Sur is released. We discuss the new Macs, Apple's M1 "system on a chip", and a two-year old Apple bug that still hasn't been fixed.

What to do if you think you have malware on your Mac

November 5th, 2020  |  30 mins 13 secs

Sometimes when things start going wrong on your Mac, you may think you have malware. In this episode, Josh and Kirk discuss the possible signs of a malware attack, and the steps to take if you think that you've been infection.

In the introduction, we said we didn't think there would be much Apple-related news this week, but we learned that Apple will be announcing new Macs, and the release date for macOS Big Sur, on November 10, so we'll be covering that in the next episode.

Will Quantum Computing Change Computer Security?

October 29th, 2020  |  27 mins 26 secs

Quantum computing is just around the corner, and it will affect the way computer security works. Strong passwords and encryption will be cracked, and we'll need new ways to secure our data and identity. We also discuss complaints against Apple's coming anti-tracking protection in iOS, and we revisit the suggestions that Apple may build its own search engine.

5G Is Here: What Does This Mean for You?

October 22nd, 2020  |  33 mins 45 secs

Josh and Kirk discuss 5G: what it is, how it works, and how fast it is. Is it worth getting a new iPhone 12 for 5G? Also, we look at another case of Apple notarizing malware, and a new RAT that started out on Windows and is now threatening the Mac.

Apple's New iPhone 12 and HomePod mini

October 15th, 2020  |  30 mins 41 secs

Josh and Kirk talk about Apple's announcement of the iPhone 12, and whether they plan to upgrade. They explain the point of the HomePod mini, and discuss what Siri can do with this new home device from Apple. We also look at the new MagSafe charging system on the iPhone 12.

Three Years! And What's Next for Apple?

October 8th, 2020  |  29 mins 20 secs

Josh and Kirk celebrate three years of the Intego Mac Podcast, and we discuss what Apple is likely to announce next week. We also look at a useful tip to keep thieves from using a stolen iPhone, a problematic macOS update that Apple had to pull, and serious, unmatchable issues with the T2 security chip in recent Macs. And yet another reminder that Flash is dead.

Who Is Tracking You?

October 1st, 2020  |  30 mins 6 secs

Apple's Safari web browser has a new feature that prevents trackers from profiling you; we discuss how this works to protect you on the Mac and on iOS. We also talk about the new Series 6 Apple watch, and the solo loop band. And we take a detour to look at how a security researcher put ransomware on a coffee machine.