In the category of articles we hate to have to write, Adam leads off this week’s issue with a detailed look at the Flashback malware, which has morphed from masquerading as a Flash Player installer to exploiting Java vulnerabilities and suckering users with a fake self-signed certificate prompt. For the rest of the issue, put your feet up and read along with Michael Cohen as he shares his story of getting Find My Mac to work, and with Steve McCabe as he ponders how best to replace a dying iMac — it’s an interesting thought experiment to imagine how you might solve a similar problem. Notable software releases this week include iMac Wi-Fi Update 1.0; Firmware Updates for iMac, Mac mini, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro; ScreenFlow 3.0.5; Camino 2.1.1; and PDFpen and PDFpenPro 5.7.2.
The Flashback malware, which has evolved significantly since its discovery in September 2011, now uses sufficiently subtle infection methods that non-technical users could easily fall prey to it. Worse, neither Apple’s XProtect malware detection system nor the forthcoming Gatekeeper in Mountain Lion can stop the current Flashback variant.
Find My Mac was unavailable on Michael Cohen’s iMac ever since the feature was first introduced — until he found the easy fix.
The details vary from person to person, but the basics are the same: When and how should one replace a dying Mac, given limited resources? Steve McCabe ponders his situation, proposing a variety of approaches and inviting readers to participate in the thought experiment.
Notable software releases this week include iMac Wi-Fi Update 1.0; Firmware Updates for iMac, Mac mini, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro; ScreenFlow 3.0.5; Camino 2.1.1; and PDFpen and PDFpenPro 5.7.2.
Two quick bits for you this week — Serenity Caldwell’s highlights of new features in OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion over at Macworld, and Chris Foresman’s article at Ars Technica about the new Mastered for iTunes section of the iTunes Store.