Find it easier to read black text on a white background? YES. David Passell shares this, "if you use Firefox, there is another good trick which I find even more useful for those websites with garish colors and text and photos spread over (and sometimes off the sides) of the screen.
In the top menu click on view.
Then scroll down to Page Style.
Click on Page Style and in the menu presented (to the right) you will see
No Style and Basic Page Style (the default).
Click on No Style.
The page will change to a more 'linear' presentation. The pictures will still appear as intended, but odd colors and white on black text will be black on white. You will have to scroll up and down to find various links, but not side-to-side when things are off the screen. You can also print the page and not waste a lot of black ink. Try it on our PMUG newsletter.
Unfortunately, I could find no equivalent option for Safari."
And David reminds us about a previous post about Safari where we had said, "One site came up with those tiny white letters on a black background, so that’s when you can do Command and Option and Control and the number 8 to toggle over to readable text, then toggle back."
Where's Safari's Back Arrow?
Ben, at Heresthethingblog.com answered my question. I hadn’t expected an answer, actually. But his website invited queries, and I was puzzled about the grayed out Back Arrow at the top of Safari, now that I’m using Mountain Lion. I was used to clicking that arrow to return to one of the sites I’d looked at earlier.
He wrote right back and mentioned the browser tabs at the top of the page in Safari. Yes! That solves the question. I had not been using Tabs to go back to earlier sites. When the Back Arrow is grayed out, I can click on a previous Tab.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5364 tells more.
To close a Tab click the button that appears in the left of the tab when the cursor hovers over it. The + sign means add new webpage Tab, click to open a new tab. The black box means show all tabs, click to show tabs in Tab View.
More to learn, but having fun!
Java and Security Risks
Prez Art Gorski finds info we need to read and heed. "In a recent update to Mountain Lion, Apple has removed the Java plug-in used in the Safari web browser. In the future, if you absolutely need Java in Safari, you will have to go download it yourself from the Oracle website.
"The question is: Do you REALLY need Java in Safari. For the vast majority of Mac users, the answer is NO. So this probably won't affect you.
"Why has Apple taken this step? Security! See the following interesting article.
Safari: Changes = Improvements
So it’s Command + D that makes a bookmark in Safari for that site you want to find again sometime! With Mountain Lion not showing that little + sign next to the URL in the bar it wasn’t obvious how bookmarks work now.
Take a look here: http://www.apple.com/safari/features.html gives brief info on the 250+ features of Safari. So, to find that same page again? You can bookmark it, and you can change the wording of that bookmark. Click on the illustration to enlarge it, then click to return to this place.
Here's how I renamed it for my own use.
About Firefox
It was a very short email from our travelin' man Jim Hamm, "If you use Firefox as a browser, you may want to take a look at this manual." So, is this the best browser? we asked. And Jim and Zee somewhere along the Mississippi River on a tour wrote back, "No, Firefox not my favorite browser. I don't have a favorite. I rotate between FF, Safari, Maxthon and Chrome. They all work well. FF does probably have more extensions and add-ons than other browsers, and they are useful. I don't happen to have FF installed on my MacBook Air or I could share the add-ons I find helpful." So, we'll probably hear more a little later.
Java Fix Doesn't Work (Updated 8-31)
We start out with the latest warning on Java, received at 3:20 pm Friday, 8-31. Jim Hamm brings us up to date. (Then read the rest of this for the background of this huge issue.) "Now this is amazing. A few hours after Oracle issued a patch for the security flaw in Java, another exploit has been found. This has been forwarded to Oracle, but since Oracle never comments on these security breaches they didn't say anything. It doesn't appear the hackers have found this opening yet, but after they read this article, they'll probably start trying. "Although our risk of hacking might be small, I think it's best to disable Java. I did so a long time ago and haven't missed it yet." You saw this here on 8-27. Here's a warning from Jim Hamm, "If you've still got Java enabled in your browser, now's a good time to disable it. Another vulnerability with Java has surfaced. Take a read on this. In Safari, Java can be disabled in Preferences > Security > uncheck enable Java." With another notice of a potential malware risk from Java 7 Jim sends this link. The last paragraph in the article states, "Mac owners can disable the Java plug-in from within their browsers, or remove Java 7 from their machines. To do the latter, select 'Go to Folder' from the Finder's 'Go' menu, enter '/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/' and drag the file '1.7.0.jdk' into the Trash." Here's a quick test to see if Java is disabled in your browser, from our eagle-eyed Jim Hamm. He tells us, "Just click here and if the box comes up empty, you're okay — Java is disabled." And, Jim sends the latest: "Here's an article describing how Oracle knew about the Java vulnerability to a malware attack since early April. And, moving right along at a snail's pace, Oracle doesn't plan a fix till October. Given Oracle's slow response to acknowledging and fixing malware attacks, it's a wonder any developer use Java at all." We were surprised to see a fix announced here this afternoon, (Thursday, August 30). Keep us informed on the latest and we'll pass the word along! ! A hot topic: this just out an hour ago, (8-31) and recommends you turn Java off or delete it.
Precautions About Java
Got Java? Note these precautions forwarded to us from Jim Hamm.
"Here's another article describing the risk of keeping Java enabled on your browser. If you need to access websites that require Java, I like the suggestion in the article to have a browser set aside for this purpose. I think Chrome might be good for this. As I've mentioned previously, I have Java disabled in Safari and haven't had any problems accessing websites. It seems there are fewer of them nowadays."
Jim goes on to say, "I'm surprised that Oracle hasn't been more aggressive in patching Java and making it more secure against malware. There is some debate going on between Oracle and Google on who "owns" Java. See this article.
"Regardless of the court outcome, I think it's wise to disable Java in your browser, just to be on the safe side."
But Jim, is Java the same as JavaScript in the Preferences in Safari? "No, they are completely different programs."
How to Make Safari Easier to Read
If you'd like to increase the font size on Safari web pages see this link that comes from Jim Hamm. He tells us, "I set the font size to 18 in tip #one. Definitely makes web pages easier to read, although the article states this may not work on all websites. I haven't tried tip #two yet, but may try it later on."
Or, try doing Command and + once, twice, or more to enlarge the Safari page. If the site you're looking at has the Reader listed at the top click to delete the ads and bring up only the article. Then if you want it larger click on Command and + to bring it larger to read and/or print it from there.
Looking at Safari's Latest Update
Might be interesting. David Passell says, "Apple has released Safari 5.1.7. The new version automatically disables out-of-date versions of Adobe Flash Player. Unfortunately, a closer look . . . " The article is dated 5-10-12 so this is new.
Google & Safari Settings for Cookies
Jim Hamm keeps a lookout for useful information. "Here is an article by John Gruber, of the Daring Fireball blog, discussing the use of cookies from websites you visit. It's a little confusing to follow, but apparently Google decided to circumvent settings in Safari and permit ALL websites from placing cookies in your browser, even if you explicitly set Safari NOT to permit this.
"A 'John Battelle,' whom I've not heard of, wrote an article sort of defending Google in doing this. Gruber disagrees with both Google and Battelle on this issue (as I do, too), and the article lists some of Battele's comments followed Gruber's response."
Jim explains, "If you're not familiar with Gruber's blog, Daring Fireball, I have a lot of respect for his opinions and comments, on this and other topics.
"Google wrote code to specifically circumvent Safari's settings, and apparently no longer does this egregious action. Google certainly has been helpful in searching for stuff on the net, but I don't appreciate sneaky actions like this on their part."
Keep Up to Date on Malware Info
Here's an article from Macworld describing malware that can infect a Mac. Jim Hamm writes, "To be safe, I disabled Java in Safari preferences. If one should need Java occasionally for, say, a bank site, just enable it for that site."
Today, 4-5, David Passell sends along this link to the BBC claiming that more than half a million Apple computers have been infected with Flashback Trojan.
If you do a search on Apple Discussions watch for the date to see if it's current information. Here's one link about it.
Now, an article on how it works, how to detect it, and how to remove it.
Today, 4-6, Jim Hamm writes that he's used the trojan-check from Mac2School's Ruth Davis. She spoke to PMUG awhile back. You can email her here for the very important virus information.
Safari's WebProcess
The following discussion about Flash is pretty much moot in light of the fact that Adobe Flash SHOULD NOT BE INSTALLED on your Mac. if you need to access a site that requires Flash, use Google Chrome instead of Safari because Chrome includes a version of Flash that is secure. (Editor, 8/26, 2015) Continuing with yesterday's post on Safari below we learn more from both Jim Hamm and Prez Art Gorski. Jim starts today's conversation with, "I just installed ClicktoFlash to see what effect, if any, they might have in at least slowing down the increase in RAM usage of WebProcess. Here is another article on controlling Flash. "I had read about ClicktoPlugin here, but since it prevents Safari from launching plug-ins automatically I wasn't sure about using it. I'll wait a bit to see the effect of the two apps I did install before trying ClicktoPlugin." Jim summarizes, "As a general philosophy I try to avoid, or at least minimize, the use of third-party apps because that's often where trouble starts when one has a problem with the OS. In this case, though, I'll give the two apps a try—and may try the third one as well." Prez Art Gorski offers some observations now, "ClicktoPlugin is the replacement for ClicktoFlash and is exactly the same except that it works on many other things besides Flash. If you install ClicktoPlugin, you must remove ClicktoFlash. "ClicktoPlugin is configurable so you can determine how it behaves. For example, there are 2 websites where I allow Flash to load automatically while I block it everywhere else. It's made my web surfing MUCH faster and more enjoyable. "I also use Ghostery to tell me what advertising and data collection spying plugins each website is using. Except for Google Analytics, which I have no problem with, I tell Ghostery to automatically block everything else. Again, a boost to my surfing speed and protection for my privacy." Art clarifies, "These are not 3rd party applications, they are web browser extensions, which are much less likely to cause problems. But in general I agree with you and avoid 3rd party apps that will prevent me from updating my OS. That's why I don't use 1Password, an otherwise excellent utility, as there is a constant stream of updates you have to keep up with, (I use Wallet instead). Is the problem solved? Jim Hamm responds to the latest info above: "Thanks, Art. After reading your clarification of ClicktoPlugin, watching the video that Elaine found, and reading the FAQ about ClicktoPlugin here, I think I'll give it a try. I'll uninstall ClicktoFlash first. Based on a very preliminary use of ClicktoFlash it has seemed to slow the increase of RAM usage in WebProcess. This is a short-time test only, and I think the ClicktoPlugin will help even further. Jim signs off (for now) with, "I like the concept and additional security of 'sandboxing' using WebProcess in Safari in Lion, and this plug-in will, hopefully, let me enjoy this security without a huge RAM penalty."
Lion's Restore Feature in Safari
Jim Hamm delves deeper into Lion's Restore feature in Safari. After research on several forums he states, "I found there is no way in Safari settings to turn off Restore. It's all or nothing unless one does a Terminal command — which I don't like to do. For now I went ahead and turned off Restore for all apps. I just didn't like Safari to open all tabs from the previous session. You can click here for more information on Restore."
You Can Block All Ad Spying
Here's some interesting info from Prez Art Gorski. He writes about Ghostery, "This Safari plug-in (double-click on it after download to install) will allow you to block all ad spying services. To configure that option, go to a website like Macworld where Ghostery will show you the list of services spying on you, then right click on that to go to the Ghostery settings. In there, you can block all of them."
Note the tiny "ghostly" icon in the heading when I bring up this PMUG Newsblog for the following screen shot.
More on Safari Security
Jim Hamm finds an article about the new Security and Privacy columns in Safari.
Safari and the Cookies
Earlier we'd looked at Cookies. Now after the upgrade to Safari 5.1 the Command + Comma command brings up a new look at Preferences > Security. Go to Privacy on the bar there to bring up Block Cookies, Limit website access, and the list of Cookies and website data. After carefully opting in to Cookies only to post to my blogs and then afterwards deleting all Cookies it was a shock to see a huge list of 595 websites which have latched on to tracking my data since upgrading to Safari this afternoon. (To see the topic of Cookies go to Labels on the right side of this home page and scroll down.)
Since starting this post I've had 35 new websites latch on to my computer. Is this the way Safari is going to behave now?
Important Security Updates for Safari
"Apple patches 48 Safari bugs to deflect drive-by attacks." This got my attention just now. Computerworld goes on to say that Safari 5.1 also adds new features and updates for Snow Leopard and Leopard. These are considered "critical." Take a look for yourself.
Security Settings for Safari
Thanks to Jim Hamm who writes, "Here are some comments about security in Safari from a member of a Mac forum I belong to. These are the settings he recommends. I’ve not tried or read about the last item in his list: FlashToHTML5. I’ll have to learn more about this, and why/if to use it.
Safari - Block Pop-Up Windows
Safari - Preferences - General - Open "safe" files after downloading (uncheck)
Safari - Preferences - Autofill - Using info from my Address Book card (uncheck)
Safari - Preferences - Autofill - User names and passwords (uncheck)
Safari - Preferences - Security - Fraudulent sites (check)
Safari - Preferences - Security - Location services (uncheck)
Safari - Preferences - Security - Web content (uncheck all for most security, but check as you need capability)
Safari - Preferences - Security - Accept cookies (check only "Only from sites I visit")
Safari - Preferences - Security - Ask before sending a non-secure form from a secure website (check)
Safari - Preferences - Extensions - AdBlock (add this extension to block most ad content)
Safari - Preferences - Extensions - FlashToHTML5 (add this extension to convert Flash to HTML5 when possible)
"The biggest setting to change is the Human Setting. Think about links before you click them. Hover over them to reveal their true destinations before clicking on them. Watch for non-secure (http://) links that ought to be secure (https://)--anything that deals with money, like banks, checkouts, etc. Look for the green secure/trusted indicator in the URL bar.
"Watch for links that include multiple 'http' strings -- these initially look like they go to the first domain listed, but actually go to the last one listed (http://www.trustedbank.com.http://evil-domain.net/blah/blah). DON'T click these. If a bank asks you for your account login information in email, via a link sent in email, it's fraudulent. If clicking a link causes a 'Enter your system administrator password' prompt, think long and hard before typing it in. I think you get the idea."
Safari Extensions Might Be Useful
MacWorld has a report on 25 Safari extensions. Jim Hamm tells us he uses AdBlocker. He goes on, "The other add-on to Safari is ClicktoFlash. I really like this as it stops all Flash advertisements, videos, etc., from loading. If you do want to see the blocked Flash, just click on it."
Improving Safari Usefulness
Read more about Safari Beta. Here's David Passell's report: "In using Safari I noticed the absence of any buttons on the tool bar to increase or decrease the size of the web page. I researched a little and found that it has to be installed. While Safari 4 is displayed, click on View and then Customize Tool bar. The size button looks like this:
"There are a lot of other buttons there that you can also drag for other functions.
"You are instructed to drag the button to the Toolbar. You can drag it anywhere you want. I dragged it near the left side, and it looks like the following. (I don't know why designers don't make things look the same from one appearance to the next, but I quibble:))
"Now when you are viewing a web page, you can click on the big A or little A to change the size of the text and images. One good feature of Safari 4 is that both are changed. Other browser size bars often change only the text and leave the images untouched. Also they may garble the page.
"Now there is a 'gotcha' here. Some websites (for example with a newsletter) may link to a PDF file. If you click on this link, it is displayed on your page. There is apparently a PDF plug-in that is part of Safari. You may see a hand on your screen.
"Sometimes the text appears impossibly small to read. So you try to click on big A. Nothing happens, but don't give up. Right click your mouse and you will see the following. You only see this menu if you are looking at a PDF file.
"You now have some choices, and the choice you make is 'Marquee Zoom.' This will cause a + sign in a small circle to display. Hover your mouse over the page and click the mouse. The page(s) will increase in size. You can keep doing this and now it is too large (:.
"What to do?: Hold down the OPTion key and the + changes to a -. Now click away till it is the size you want.
"When you are through sizing the page, you can right click to get the whatchamacallit again. (I think its official name is 'context menu'). To eliminate the + button, you can click on Hand Tool (which will put a hand on the screen). Or click on Select Tool and there will be no special cursor there.
"Note that there are other choices available. Page Display Preferences gives you another menu which controls how the document is displayed. Single Page Continuous is a good choice.
"Hope this helps in making your use of Safari 4 even more enjoyable." Regards: David