Kirk McElhearn
Co-Host of Intego Mac Podcast
Kirk McElhearn writes about Macs, iPods, iTunes, books, music and more on his blog Kirkville. He is a regular contributor to The Mac Security Blog, TidBITS, and several other websites and publications. Kirk has written more than twenty books, including Take Control books about iTunes, LaunchBar, and Scrivener.
Kirk McElhearn has hosted 371 Episodes.
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Episode 227: Apple Vulns, Macro Viruses, and How Encryption Protects You
February 17th, 2022 | 29 mins 31 secs
Apple has issued a mixed assortment of security updates, Microsoft is changing the way they warn about macros in Word and Excel documents, and we take a deep dive into end-to-end encryption, explaining why your security and privacy online depend on it.
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Episode 226: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
February 10th, 2022 | 28 mins 40 secs
A bug has turned up that allowed Siri to record user interactions without permission; Facebook predicts Apple's strict privacy and tracking features will hurt its bottom line; and third parties are selling AirTags that have been hacked to make them less detectable and easier to use for stalking. And, break ups happen: we've got some advice for how to un-share devices, services and personal data with your ex, just in time for Valentine's Day.
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Episode 225: Face ID with a Mask; Barcodes with Stamps; and Problems with OneDrive
February 3rd, 2022 | 27 mins 31 secs
We look at some Face ID tricks for you, your iPhone, and your mask. OneDrive and Dropbox run into a kernel extension issue and things may be kind of haywire for their syncing capabilities. The App Store announces support for unlisted apps for private distribution. And the UK's Royal Mail starts including barcodes with stamps, and fun may ensue.
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Episode 224: The Enemy in Your Pocket
January 27th, 2022 | 31 mins 17 secs
We take a close look at the new DazzleSpy malware that targets Macs. There's quite a bit of money to be made from Apple's bug bounty program; one recipient blabs on the payout. Time for procrastinators to update to iOS 15 as security updates dry up for earlier systems. Scammers are preying on prayers; prayer apps that is. And we've got another AirTags to the rescue adventure. Also, Apple released a whole slew of security updates right after we finished recording the podcast; check the link in the show notes for full info.
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Episode 223: How to Run Windows on an M1 Mac
January 20th, 2022 | 30 mins 9 secs
A new Safari vulnerability can leak your browser history, 5G can interfere with airplane altimeters, Google Analytics is being targeted by EU courts, and we take a deep dive into running Windows on an M1 Mac.
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Episode 222: SysJoker Malware and Scams in the App Store
January 13th, 2022 | 28 mins 35 secs
New SysJoker malware attacks Mac, Windows, and Linux computers. Apple has difficulty managing scams and copycat apps in its App Stores. And iCloud Private Relay is provoking ire among phone carriers.
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Episode 221: Look-Alike Letters Lead Users to Lose Moola
January 6th, 2022 | 25 mins 21 secs
Attackers can simulate an iPhone restart to keep malware alive, and an interesting HomeKit vulnerability could brick your device. We discuss malicious QR codes, and we take a deep dive into Apple's two-factor authentication, which more and more users need to use Apple devices.
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Episode 220: The Challenge with Alexa
December 30th, 2021 | 27 mins 51 secs
Amazon Alexa gave a dangerous answer to a child asking for a challenge; how much can we trust AI to provide safe, reliable information? We also look at the new RedLine malware, and discuss some iCloud settings to help you get back into your account if you've forgotten your password, and one that lets you set up a legacy contact.
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Episode 219: $1,139 of Gelato
December 23rd, 2021 | 30 mins 52 secs
A four-year old child, using his father's phone, ordered $1,139 worth of gelato. We discuss the risks of lending your iPhone or iPad to a child, and we look at the new App Privacy Report, in iOS and iPad OS 15.2, which tells you what apps are doing behind your back.
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Episode 218: Does the Log4j Vulnerability Affect You?
December 16th, 2021 | 27 mins 33 secs
The Log4j vulnerability is making the news, and we discuss what it is and who should worry. We look at Apple's new feature to detect nude photos in children's messages, and we discuss the potential demise of the NSO Group.
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Episode 217: New Scam Emails Purport to Come from NSO Group Hacker
December 9th, 2021 | 27 mins 46 secs
Amazon's AWS outage causes havoc with the internet; a simple mistake can lock you out of your Google account for 48 hours; and we discuss a new scam email purporting to come from an NSO Group hacker.
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Episode 216: The Problem with Default Passwords
December 2nd, 2021 | 27 mins 17 secs
The UK is mulling a bill to prohibit default passwords; the admin/admin that is often set by default on internet-connected devices. This would be a good thing, but there are drawbacks. We also discuss how Apple takes the lead in smartphone sales in China, and an upgrade program for Mac laptops.
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Episode 215: Apple Sues NSO Group for Pegasus Spyware
November 25th, 2021 | 29 mins 15 secs
Apple has filed a lawsuit against NSO Group, the creator of Pegasus spyware, that has targeted politicians, journalists, and activists. We discuss this surprising lawsuit and what it means for Apple users and security.
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Episode 214: Shop Safely on Black Friday and Cyber Monday
November 18th, 2021 | 32 mins 9 secs
We had to check our calendars when Apple announced a new self-service repair program for iPhones. We look at some new Mac malware, and we discuss how to shop safely and securely online this Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
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Episode 213: Is Apple Planning to Lock Down the Mac?
November 11th, 2021 | 28 mins 35 secs
There is still new malware pretending to be Flash Player updates, even though Flash is dead; Facebook said they were ditching their facial recognition program, but has done an about face; and we discuss whether Apple is on a path to lock down the Mac to only allow apps to be installed from the Mac App Store. (Math correction: at one point I said $200 million; the correct number is $2 billion.)
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Episode 212: Apple’s Poor Patching Policies
November 4th, 2021 | 30 mins 50 secs
We look at how Apple's inconsistent patching policies for fixing security threats puts users at risk. We also discuss Facebook's decision to shut down their facial recognition program, and an interesting "Trojan source" attack that could allow malware to be inserted into source code using invisible characters.