"If you've installed a flashlight app on your smartphone you might want to take a look at the following video," declares Jim Hamm. He continues, "And here are the Android apps SnoopWall.com checked. No apps listed for iOS as yet, but if you have a flashlight app installed on an iPhone you might check the size of the app, as mentioned in the video. The cyber crooks are getting ever more devious in their malware." A Cybersecurity Threat That Could Be Lurking On Your Phone
Check Now for iWorm Threat
Jim Hamm passes along some vital information of this alert about a new threat to Mac OS X dubbed Mac.BackDoor.iWorm. Apparently over 18,500 Macs have already been infected. Read about it here. Remember how to find that hidden Library? See this http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-make-your-macs-library-folder-visible/
Testing Your Internet Connection
Here's some food for thought from Jim Hamm: "Do you occasionally like to test your internet connection to see if you're getting close to the download speed you're paying for? I do, too. One test you might try using is: http://speedof.me/ .
"This one relies strictly on HTML 5 and no Flash or Java is needed. It will work on just about any smartphone, tablet or computing device. You might give it a try."
Buying a Used iPhone?
Alerting us, David Passell says, "With people always on the lookout for 'bargains' here is something to be aware of when buying a used iPhone from eBay or other not-Apple sources. Buyers of second-hand iPhones can now more easily check that the previous owner still doesn't have control over the device." Read about it http://www.zdnet.com/apple-releases-activation-lock-status-checker-for-used-ios-devices-7000034285/
iCloud is Vulnerable
Jim Hamm sends this warning, "This article just points out how vulnerable the iCloud really is Be cautious of what you store there." http://mashable.com/2014/09/04/i-hacked-my-own-icloud-account/
See If Your ID Password Has Been Leaked
Check and see if your ID password has been leaked. Jim Hamm says, "Here is a website https://isleaked.com/ that will check it for you. Five million were just released on-line." He checked his Gmail account but changed his password anyway, because more passwords and Gmail accounts may be released later on.
Prepare for Yosemite
John Carter alerts us to a new Take Control offer. There's an early-bird version of Joe Kissell's Take Control of Upgrading to Yosemite, available now at a steep discount. Take a look at http://tid.bl.it/tco-yosemite-upgrading-mug-prerelease-discount describing their 73-page offer. Mary Ann Clark has posted many of John's articles in detail on the PMUG website: www.pmug.us under the heading of Reviews.
Beware of Phishing
After hearing from David Passell posted on 9-3, we all are on alert for the bad stuff. A few days later here comes an email to "editor" of this blog, asking for the password to be reset. Avoiding the obvious, it was time to phone directly to Apple for help from a living person. Finally, a person to talk with! The man agreed that since the return address on the email was from "orders@tunes.co.uk" it was BAD. He directed me to forward that email to reportphishing@icloud.com and so that's that.
Restore Files with Time Machine
"Here is a helpful article if you should ever need to restore files on your Mac using Time Machine," notes Jim Hamm. Thanks again, Jim, for keeping your PMUG friends in mind.
Startup Issues
Responding to a question John Carter gives two ways to handle Mac login issues. You can picture him smiling as he first suggests this: "Do an Internet search like this: 'mac turn off login items.' And then sift through dozens of similar answers.
"But here’s my answers:
Answer #1: Right click on the item in the Dock, select Options, deselect “Open at login.”
Answer #2: Open System Preferences -> Users & Groups -> Login Items. Select the item and then click the ‘-‘ button at the bottom." (Yes, that's the little minus sign.)
Routers, Switches, Network Hardware
What is a router and what does it do? What difference is there in the WiFi speeds? Why are network hubs no longer needed?
Well, Jim Hamm found this article to explain these to the person with a need to know. "Here's an article explaining how a home network functions," he says.
http://www.howtogeek.com/99001/htg-explains-routers-and-switches/
Learn Via Video, etc.
Helpful PMUG leader John Carter scores big with this link, www.macmost.com/ and you'll want to take a look at this website. Turns out they have more than 900 FREE video tutorials on how to use your Mac, iPad, iPhone and other Apple Technology.
And here's some very welcome news: They never sell, rent or share your email address. Read details at Policies.
No, we're not listing all 900 of their video tutorials. But look at some of these other helpful categories.
Here's another list of pages you'll want to check out.
And this concludes the August PMUG meeting handout that's not getting handed out tomorrow, August 16; it's just posted here for your convenience. Thanks again to John Carter who keeps an eye out for useful info for us.
by Elaine Hardt.
More on Mail Signatures
"MacMost.com has just announced a new video on using Mail Signatures," John Carter tells us. "This would be a good follow-up on my article (posted August 11) about using Signatures as an e-mail template. See the video here: Watch Video…
Apps: Adobe and Alternatives
"Sometime in the past you installed software from Adobe. When you did this, it scattered a bazillion files all over the place on your Mac. Now you want to delete the Adobe software. Good luck finding all the cruft!" exclaims Past Prez Art Gorski.
He goes on, "Utility programs that claim to be able to uninstall software for you fail miserably when faced with the Adobe challenge. Here’s a good on-line discussion of the involved procedure needed to absolutely clean this stuff off your computer:" http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/applications/topic3000-026.html#d12aug2014
Solving Flash Player Problem
Jim Hamm is on the lookout for helpful info, and today he writes, "If you're running an older version of OS X and are having a problem with Adobe's Flash Player, following is a tip from the "Tech Tails" newsletter that may be of help. The article is by Jeremy Holt."
If you’ve purchased a computer in the last four years, this post does not apply to you, but if you’re one of many that haven’t committed to upgrading your system just yet then please continue reading.
If you’ve upgraded to/from either Leopard (OS 10.5.8) or Snow Leopard (OS 10.6.8), you may have discovered that Safari (version 5.1.7) stubbornly refuses to play Flash-based media. This would be web content that involves motion graphics. There are a few reasons for this.
The most simple resolution is simply navigating to Adobe’s website and installing the latest version of Flash Player.
Another issue could have to do with your system’s software updates. Have you run all of your software updates? Mind you, this process may need to be performed a few times as more current updates do not become available until previous ones have been installed. More specifically, you’ll want to be sure to run any and all OS X Security Updates for Leopard/Snow Leopard.
The reason for this is because Safari 5.1.7 for OS X Snow Leopard, and Leopard Security Update 2012-003 disable out-of-date versions of Adobe Flash Player. Out-of-date versions of Adobe Flash Player do not include the latest security updates and will be disabled to help keep your Mac secure. If Safari 5.1.7 or Leopard Security Update 2012-003 detects an out-of-date version of Flash Player on your system, you will see a dialog informing you that Flash Player has been disabled. The dialog provides the option to go directly to Adobe’s website, where you can download and install an updated version of Flash Player.
However, if your software is completely up to date and/or you’ve installed the latest version of Flash Player from Adobe’s site, I suggest following these instructions that might resolve your issue. Quit out of Safari before performing this task.
- Navigate to the /Library/Internet Plug-Ins (Disabled) folder.
- Drag “Flash Player.plugin” into /Library/Internet Plug-Ins.
- If the browser is running, quit and restart it.
Using a Signature & Using Stationery
Maybe you haven't tried this yet; John Carter to the rescue! "There have been times when I was responding to someone’s question when I really wished I had a template with a stock answer.
"Well, it’s really easy to do. There are two ways to do it. One is using a Signature, and the other is using Stationery.
"Using a signature is easier to work with if you need to edit the content. I have discovered that if you are using Stationery, it’s more difficult to edit the content. In fact, it appears to be impossible. It’s just very difficult. I’ll explain how to create both. The amount of detail below is for beginners." And here we quote John in all these directions:
Using a Signature:
Create a new message. It can contain images. Whatever you put in that message, including how it appears, will show up in the new signature.
Select the entire body of the message, including your actual signature - if you put one there. (Cmd-A)
Copy the selection to the clipboard. (Cmd-C)
Open Mail->Preferences. (Cmd-,)
Select the Signatures tab in the toolbar.
Make sure that the left side panel is showing “All Signatures” and click on it to make it active.
Click on the ‘+’ sign under the center panel.
Change the name of that Signature from “Signature #x” (where ‘x’ is a number) to something you will recognize.
The right side panel may or may not contain something.
Click inside the right side panel and paste the content of the clipboard. (Cmd-V) If there was something else there, just do Select All (Cmd-A) followed by Paste (Cmd-V) and it will be replaced.
In the left side panel, leave the “All Signatures” selection active and scroll down to the e-mail account that you want to add the new signature to. Do this without clicking inside that panel. Instead, just hover the mouse pointer in that panel and scroll down. (Using the Magic Mouse, slide your finger up and down the center. Using a mouse with a center wheel, move the wheel back and forth. If you have neither, click and hold the scroll bar on the right side of the panel to move it up/down). The center panel should still be showing the signatures (by name).
With the desired e-mail account in view, click and drag the new signature onto the e-mail account.
Check the bottom part of the Signatures window and note what “Choose Signature:” contains. If it is blank, that means no signature will be added to your e-mail messages. It doesn’t matter in this case - you don’t want it to show the new signature unless you want every message you start contain that signature.
Also note the box for “Place signature above quoted text.” If checked, your signature will appear above any message you may be replying to or forwarding. If not checked, it will always appear below any message you may be replying to or forwarding. If you are not replying to or forwarding a message (you are creating a new message), there will be a blank line above the signature in your new message.
When you start a new e-mail message, you should see “Signature:” on the bottom right side of the message header. Click on it to show all the signatures and select the one you want to show in the message. Whatever signature is selected will automatically appear in the body of the new message (even a message that you are replying to or forwarding).
Using Stationery.
Create a new message. It can contain images. Whatever you put in that message, including how it appears, will show up in the new Signature.
Click File->Save as Stationery.
Give your new Stationery a name and click “Save.”
Stationery is intended to be a background and/or template to a new message. You cannot use Stationery in a reply to, or forwarded message like you can with a Signature.
If you put text in Stationery at the time you create it, it shows up in a text box and you are expected to click anywhere in that text box to change the entire content. To edit the content is not impossible, but requires patience while you move the text cursor around with the arrow keys on the keyboard. For any other prepared Signatures, you can place the text cursor anywhere are start editing. To create a Stationery like that requires more detailed instructions - which are available online.
For Signatures that I have created containing text, as soon as I select any part of the text, the entire text is highlighted, including any images I placed there. It is impossible to place the text cursor anywhere in the text such as to select a word. Once the entire area is highlighted, if I want to edit any part of it, I have to use the arrow keys to move the text cursor around, and it always starts at either the very beginning or the very end.
My choice is to save a template as a Signature. Any part of it can then be edited as you would normal text.
And so, that's John Carter's lesson for today.
Potential Dangers of Photo Posting
"If you post pictures online, say on Facebook, you should take a look at this video of what can be discovered from the picture you just posted. So be careful of what you post. The video also gives you a tip on how to possibly avoid this discovery," says Jim Hamm.
A Tip About Chrome
"If you use the Chrome browser, here is a tip to be aware of," Jim Hamm writes.
http://lifehacker.com/stop-chrome-from-running-in-the-background-after-you-c-1610071987
FileVault: Here's Help
Mary Ann Clark informs us she's posted this piece from John Carter on the PMUG website http://pmug.us/reviews/ "Take Control of FileVault, ebook." Take a look soon; it sounds interesting and helpful.
We Appreciate YOU
Pam Wickstrom, new VP, wants you to know how much PMUG appreciates YOU and she invites you to consider sharing at an upcoming meeting. At our July meeting she announced her idea for scheduling the next meetings. And she got some ideas there.
Now she writes, "It seems there is a strong interest in what apps people are using and would recommend for Apple devices. I am seeking volunteers for presenting your use of apps and why you like a particular application(s). You can speak for a 15 minute segment or more time as you wish. Of course, there will be time for the group to ask questions as well. So please seriously think about offering your experience to the group. It is in sharing that we learn."
Please let Pam Wickstrom know by email (pwickstrom@cableone.net) if you can speak at a meeting.
She continues, "You may also contact John Carter (john@jrcarter.com) if you have questions about technology available to assist you in your presentation. You certainly don’t have to be adept at powerpoint presentations; however, John may have ideas to assist you."
Pam concludes with, "We are considering having a meeting on how to use the PMUG website. Your thoughts? Another idea is seeing the video 'Welcome to Macintosh' produced in 2008. Members could bring older devices for a 'show and tell.' We would appreciate your feedback."