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.
-
A New iMac, a Google Gotcha, and a Zoom Zinger
August 7th, 2020 | 29 mins 33 secs
Apple updated the 27" iMac this week, and it may be the last new desktop Mac running Intel processors, but should you buy this one or wait for Apple's own chips? Google accidentally enabled some of its speakers to listen in on sounds in people's homes, and we update recent stories about Garmin getting hit by ransomware, and the Great Twitter Hack of 2020.
-
How computer security is depicted in movies
July 31st, 2020 | 32 mins 4 secs
We talk about an update on the Great Twitter Hack of 2020, discuss a ransomware attack on Garmin that shut down the company's services, and even its assembly lines, and warn listeners about some Netgear devices that have vulnerabilities and can't be updated. We then discuss the often ridiculous way hacking is portrayed in movies and TV.
-
Are smart locks really that smart?
July 24th, 2020 | 31 mins 41 secs
We follow up on the great Twitter hack of 2020, we discuss how a Cloudflare outage brought down many major websites, and Kirk tells a story of a suspicious email from his local government. We then examine whether smart locks are really safe.
-
The Great Twitter Hack of 2020
July 17th, 2020 | 30 mins 52 secs
Apple issues another round of updates, hackers target organizations involved in coronavirus vaccine development, and there was a big Twitter hack where CEOs and politicians had their accounts compromised. Tweets were posted for a cryptocurrency scam, but were there other reasons for the hack?
-
An actual Mac virus, and 1 in 142 passwords is "123456"
July 10th, 2020 | 31 mins 20 secs
While there is plenty of malware that affects the Mac, actual viruses are rare; but new malware has been found that does meet that description. We talk about how 1 in 142 passwords is "123456," and we have a special announcement about new Intego software.
-
New Mac Ransomware-wiper-spyware ThiefQuest discovered
July 3rd, 2020 | 27 mins 19 secs
New malware targeting the Mac was discovered this week; it's a hybrid ransomware-wiper-spyware, but you don't need to worry if you don't download pirated software. We also discuss how a journalist's iPhone was hacked by him visiting a website, look at issues with the TikTok app on iOS, and look at how Google is now auto-deleting new user history after 18 months.
-
What’s Coming in macOS Big Sur and iOS 14
June 26th, 2020 | 34 mins
This week, Apple announced the new features for its coming operating system updates: macOS Big Sur, and iOS 14. They also announced a big change to Mac hardware. Josh and Kirk discuss the changes coming, and take a close look at security and privacy features in these operating systems.
-
We Can’t Be Safe without a Faraday Cage
June 19th, 2020 | 32 mins 48 secs
Intego has discovered new malware that propagates through poisoned Google search results. Zoom does a couple more u-turns. An App Store controversy is causing people to question Apple's policies. And spies can eavesdrop by watching the variations in light bulbs.
-
What Could Apple Switching to ARM Processors on Macs Mean for You?
June 12th, 2020 | 33 mins 44 secs
Apple has been making its own chips for iOS devices for a while now, and it seems likely that the company will announce a move to the same ARM-based processors for Macs at the coming WorldWide Developer Conference. We discuss how Apple has changed processor architecture twice in the past, and cover some news about Dropbox, Zoom, the Brave web browser, and smart home devices.
-
Polymorphic Viruses
June 5th, 2020 | 32 mins 45 secs
We begin by learning how Josh got interesting in computer security. We then discuss Apple patches and flaws, end-to-end encryption, coronavirus scams, a Google lawsuit, and a photo that can crash Android phones.
-
Apple operating system updates, iPhone & iPad storage, and shooting video on an iPhone
May 29th, 2020 | 34 mins
Apple updated all its operating systems again this week, but a jailbreak vulnerability was found quickly. We discuss the new contact tracing feature in iOS, how to free up storage on an iOS device, and give some tips on shooting video on an iPhone.
-
Tips for using your Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch
May 22nd, 2020 | 34 mins 52 secs
We look at some practical tips for getting more out of your Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch. We take a close look at System Preferences, discuss using the iPad as a second screen for your Mac; and a handful of tips for making the Apple Watch more efficient. Also, Josh and Kirk disagree about Microsoft's choice to flag two spaces after a period in Word as an error.
-
iCloud, Thunderbolt, WWDC, and North Korean Malware
May 15th, 2020 | 29 mins 58 secs
The date for this year's WWDC has been set (June 22). Many users don't know that the government can access some of your iCloud data (with a warrant). We look at a new Thunderbolt vulnerability that affects Macs made since 2011 (but you don't need to worry). And we discuss contact tracing apps and new North Korean malware.
-
It’s World Password Day; Why do we still use passwords?
May 8th, 2020 | 30 mins 32 secs
Passwords are easy to implement, but keeping them secure is not that simple. On World Password Day, Josh and Kirk discuss how passwords might be replaced by other means of authentication. And they discuss the UK's covid-19 contact tracing app which raises privacy concerns, a Facebook bug that caused lots of apps to fail, why you should always check that auto-completed email address, and more.
-
Don’t Share Your Apple ID (so a Friend Can Watch Apple TV+)
May 1st, 2020 | 31 mins 2 secs
Getting a text message on an iOS device can crash your iPhone or iPad; but it can't do any more harm than that. Apple has released a beta version of iOS with its coronavirus notification API, but Americans don't trust tech companies. And we talk about Apple TV+, and how you should never share your Apple ID so friends can watch shows with your account.
-
Zero Day, Compromised Ad Servers, and the New iPad Magic Keyboard
April 24th, 2020 | 32 mins 11 secs
Every day is zero day in the security world. Researchers have found some serious vulnerabilities in iOS that affect the Mail app, and a fix is coming. Compromised ad servers allow cybercriminals to serve malware on respected websites. And we discuss the new Magic Keyboard for iPad, which turns the iPad into a new computing device.