Apple Pay (Wallet)

FYI and possible interest, here is an article discussing a vulnerability in Apple Pay (Wallet) that potentially a hacker can get into. Only discovered in a lab so far. I do have Apple Pay (Wallet) set up in my iPhone, and almost never use it. Sprouts is the only store that I've been in that uses Apple Pay. The article recommends turning off "Express Mode" in the Wallet app, which the article said was turned on by default. I checked in 'Settings' in Wallet and mine was turned off for the two credit cards I have installed.

Maybe something for you do do if you have the Wallet app installed.

Jim Hamm

iO 15 Super Guide

If you already have, or plan to, upgrade to iOS 15 you may want to read the following article:

https://www.macworld.com/article/350966/ios-15-super-guide-features-tips-tricks-updates-safari-facetime-focus-notification-summary.html?

Here's a side note: read the comments about Safari in the article. I usually use Chrome as my browser, but opened the new Safari to see what I thought. It is so different from Chrome, and after I fiddled around with it for a while, I decided I didn't like it and went back to Chrome. If interested, take a look and see what you think.

Jim Hamm

Express VPN

We used to travel often, both in our motorhome and otherwise, and I used a VPN whenever connected to a public wifi network, such as in an RV park, airport, or hotel. I never used ExpressVPN, but this article has quite a story about it, and some other VPNs as well. Not good 'stuff' about ExpressVPN, to put it bluntly. It's interesting to note this is the VPN Kim Komando recommends in her technical emails and broadcasts. Will be interesting to see if she still recommends it after she, hopefully, reads this article.

A VPN will protect you from a hacking by someone on the same public wifi network as you are, but one must remember the internet connection will still go through the VPN's server, somewhere, and operators can then have access to your message. Realistically, this never bothered me as I never sent anything I wanted to remain confidential over a public wifi network, like credit card info, etc.

I hardly ever use a VPN anymore, as the pandemic has slowed (stopped?) our travels, and our home network and router are secure, but I find articles such as this interesting.

Jim Hamm

What's New in Apple

For a review of what's coming up in iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey, read the following article:

https://www.howtogeek.com/732836/whats-new-in-ios-15-ipados-15-and-macos-monterey/

Lots to get your mind around, and one item that caught my attention is soon Facetime will be available on Windows and Android. I think that is a smart move by Apple. Following this, I wonder if Apple will try to get Facetime to be a competitor to Zoom, which has become quite popular during the pandemic.

Jim Hamm

Android Malware

This article discusses malware that is infecting apps for Android devices. A very scary situation, and hopefully the hackers don't try this malware on iOS devices. I must say I'm surprised they haven't tried yet. Maybe the hackers have tried and Apple's review and control of authorized apps has prevented this from happening. Seems like a good idea not to download and install an app except directly from Apple, if you have an iOS device.

Jim Hamm


https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/381038

Store Your COVID Vaccine Card

Here is an article from Macworld discussing several ways to store a copy of your COVID vaccination card with you in your iPhone, iPad or Mac. I took a photo of my two cards with my iPhone. The image is automatically stored in the Photos app. Then, on a Mac, Photos can be opened, the image found, then a name placed on it. "Vaccine" is what I used. Then, if you need to quickly show the photo to someone, a search on "vaccine" will quickly find the photo.

The article also discusses other ways.

Jim Hamm

Public WiFi

I previously used public wifi often when we traveled frequently, both by motorhome and otherwise. I never had any hacking problems, which can happen, though, if you're not careful. This article, from the Kaspersky AV blog, has some good tips on safe practices when you're on a public wifi network.

We have breakfast at Denny's occasionally, and I'll take my iPad, and I will use their public wifi to read the news. But I'll never purchase something and use a credit card, or log in to our bank, when on public wifi. Use caution.

Jim Hamm

Clarification on Posting by Forbes.com on iMessage

"Why You Should Stop Using iMessage After Shock iPhone Update"

That’s the headline being posted by Forbes.com (https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2021/08/07/apple-iphone-users-shock-imessage-update-after-security-warning/?sh=39fd73be7075)

It’s over-the-top dramatic to be sure.

Here’s the meat of the article that Forbes.com is referencing in EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation, https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/08/apples-plan-think-different-about-encryption-opens-backdoor-your-private-life)


"There are two main features that the company is planning to install in every Apple device. One is a scanning feature that will scan all photos as they get uploaded into iCloud Photos to see if they match a photo in the database of known child sexual abuse material (CSAM) maintained by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). The other feature scans all iMessage images sent or received by child accounts—that is, accounts designated as owned by a minor—for sexually explicit material, and if the child is young enough, notifies the parent when these images are sent or received. This feature can be turned on or off by parents.”

Overall, the news looks very real. However, the headlines you will see are very damaging in the literal interpretation of the headlines.

So what this really means is that it is NOT as dramatic as it sounds. You do NOT have to stop using iMessages on the iPhone after the update - UNLESS you are taking nude photos of children or sexually explicit photos. Hence, don’t take any chances of that darling nude photo of your baby grandchild getting in your iPhone or Mac.


John R. Carter, Sr.

iOS App Store

Apple recently released a 'white paper' on their position regarding their tight control of iOS apps, which can be somewhat summarized in the following quote:

"Apple’s white paper proposes that, were iOS to allow the sideloading of apps, users’ iPhones would be subjected to a relentless onslaught of scams and security exploits, rendering all of their sensitive personal data subject to invasive collection from malicious actors. The paper suggests that a shadowy army of security exploiters and hackers is drooling over the opportunity to invade the 1 billion iPhones that are currently active, and all that is keeping them at bay, currently, is the App Store’s position as the sole legitimate distribution point for apps on iOS devices."

Should you have an interest in reading it, the following article from the TidBITS newsletter discusses this in some detail.

Jim Hamm

https://tidbits.com/2021/07/02/apple-justifies-ios-app-stores-tight-control-in-white-paper/

Very Important Warning From Apple

If you own an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, then it's essential you update it with the latest security patch as soon as possible due to a zero-day exploit and risk of malware infection.

Apple has issued a security update with iOS 14.7.1, iPadOS 14.7.1, and macOS Big Sur 11.5.1. In all three cases, the update fixes a memory corruption issue that allowed an app to "execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges." Why it's so important to apply the security patches immediately is because Apple admits the exploit is already being actively used in the wild.

Update your iOS or iPadOS device by navigating to Settings > General > Software Update. After that, tap "Download and Install" and the security update will be downloaded and applied, after which you should be protected from this exploit. For Mac users, open the Apple menu, select System Preferences, click Software Update, and then click "Update Now," which will download the latest update and patch your system.


This is why we keep downloading new updates to our operating systems. A zero day exploit is one that is discovered the same day the update comes out. That means, before Apple even knows about the hack, people are being hacked. This one is rather critical.

Please update as soon as you read this.

Frank Croft



10 Steps to Amazing Photos

Because Affinity Photo has so many tools and features, it can be a little overwhelming. Where do you begin when editing a photo? What do you edit 2nd and 3rd? How do you take a regular photo, and make it look amazing?

To answer these questions, I made a free course for you: 10 Steps to Amazing Photos.

This course will teach you 10 simple steps to make any photo look its best. The course is just 1 hour long, but will transform the way you edit your photos. I'm sure you're going to love it!


John R. Carter, Sr.