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 195: The Danger of Internet-Connected Devices
July 8th, 2021 | 31 mins 31 secs
We take another look at Windows 11 system requirements, we discuss another strange wi-fi network name that can break iPhones, and we look closely at the issue of Western Digital network storage devices that have had data deleted by hackers.
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Episode 194: iCloud Calendar Spam, In-App Purchases, and Windows 11
July 1st, 2021 | 28 mins 19 secs
Owners of WD MyCloud Drives have found all their data remotely wiped by hackers. iCloud Calendar spam is problem again, and we explain why, and how to fix it. We also discuss managing in-app purchases and app subscriptions, and we even discuss the forthcoming Windows 11.
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Episode 193: Secure Password Recipes
June 24th, 2021 | 30 mins 23 secs
One way of creating secure passwords is to use a number of memorable words; how secure are this type of password? We also look at a network bug that can disable wi-fi on iPhones, the new Brave privacy-protecting search engine, and an EU investigation of Google's FLoC technology.
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Episode 192: New Features Coming in macOS Monterey, iOS 15, and iPadOS 15
June 17th, 2021 | 31 mins 8 secs
Apple issued a security update for iOS 12, and we wonder why. Google backtracks on a Chrome address bar change. New stats show an increasing in phishing sites. And we discuss the new features in Apple's next operating systems, due out in the fall.
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Episode 191: New Privacy Features in iOS 15 and macOS Monterey
June 10th, 2021 | 31 mins 12 secs
Apple introduced its new operating systems this week, and there are plenty of privacy features to help users better control their data. We discuss these new features, and especially a number of important features that Apple didn't discuss at the keynote.
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Episode 190: Amazon Sidewalk and the Forever Mac
June 3rd, 2021 | 31 mins 10 secs
Facebook and Intel try to diss Apple, but score own goals. Amazon Sidewalk launches, and we tell you what it means, and how to opt out. And we discuss whether Apple's new processors, and extensions to AppleCare, suggest that we may have forever Macs.
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Episode 189: M1s Everywhere
May 27th, 2021 | 32 mins 20 secs
Apple updates everything again, and their new privacy add provides a clear explanation of app tracking. We discuss an iOS app scam, where an app won't let you do anything unless you give it a good rating first. And we look at Apple's new M1 iMac and iPad Pro.
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Episode 188: How Much Abuse Can Apple's AirTags Take?
May 20th, 2021 | 30 mins 6 secs
We stress tested Apple AirTags and discuss how tough they are, but we also look at how AirTags can enable stalkers. And there's news about Apple touting its App Store enforcement, the accommodations the company makes with China, and a Find My app exploit.
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Episode 187: Pipeline Ransomware, Users Don’t Want Apps to Track Them, and Mailing AirTags
May 13th, 2021 | 29 mins 32 secs
Ransomware has interrupted a major US gasoline pipeline, Apple didn't tell more than 100 million people their iOS devices had malware, wi-fi design flaws found that could affect everyone, and we sent an Apple AirTag through the mail and followed it.
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Episode 186: Facebook and Instagram Beg Users to Be Allowed to Track Them
May 6th, 2021 | 28 mins 56 secs
Apple issued emergency security updates to its operating systems to protect against vulnerabilities exploited in the wild. Facebook and Instagram plead to be allowed to track users. And we discuss how QR codes can be switched and could pose risks to users.
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Episode 185: AirTags, AirDrop, and App Tracking
April 29th, 2021 | 32 mins 36 secs
Lots of updates for Apple operating systems, an AirDrop vulnerability that can lean phone numbers and email addresses, and hands on with the new Apple TV color calibration feature. We also discuss the many things you may want to track with Apple's new AirTags.
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Episode 184: The Acme of Thinness
April 22nd, 2021 | 29 mins 34 secs
More bad news about Facebook, more browsers just saying no to FLoC, and we look at Apple's Spring Loaded product announcements.
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Episode 183: 500 Million More Reasons to Talk About Facebook
April 15th, 2021 | 28 mins 1 sec
Scammers have a new technique for delivering malware: using online contact forms. A couple of browsers are nixing Google's FLoC ad tracking technology. The FBI has been playing white hat hacker. And e talk about Facebook, and especially the "off-Facebook activity" that tracks you across the internet.
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Episode 182: Facebook, Google, and Stolen iPhones
April 8th, 2021 | 30 mins 51 secs
Facebook leaks 500 million user records, Google is testing a new replacement for cookies to track users, and we explain how to check if that used iPhone you want to buy is stolen.
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No April Fool's Jokes Here, and Other News
April 1st, 2021 | 29 mins 47 secs
We talk about new malware targeting iOS developers, fleeceware in the App Store, 5G vulnerabilities that can leak your location, and discuss private browsing windows, with a Safari tip that is useful for anyone who uses this feature. And we have no April Fool's jokes.
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10 Mac security and privacy features to set up right away
March 25th, 2021 | 27 mins 22 secs
We discuss our checklist of the 10 security and privacy features that you should set up right away on your new Mac.