16 January 2023 Show full articles

#1642: How to identify phishing attacks, new iPhone and iPad passcode requirements

We have two in-depth articles for you this week. First, we examine why iPhones and iPads now require a passcode on every attempt to back up or sync to a Mac. (Hint, it’s related to a ham-handed fix for a security vulnerability.) Second, Adam Engst takes you on an illustrated, annotated tour of recent phishing attempts that evaded Gmail’s spam filter so that you—or the people to whom you forward the article—can learn to identify phishing attempts more accurately. ExtraBITS point you to Apple SVP Eddy Cue’s summary of Apple’s services efforts in 2022, the new Apple Business Connect service, and Howard Oakley’s recommendation of the best disk image formats. Notable Mac app releases this week include 1Password 8.9.13, Ulysses 29.2, and SpamSieve 2.9.51.

People who use their Macs to back up or sync their iPhones and iPads have discovered they must enter their device passcode for every connection. What’s up with that?!? Adam Engst explains: it’s Apple’s ham-handed response to a security vulnerability.

Phishing is one of the main ways that attackers breach corporate systems and compromise individual accounts. Follow along as Adam Engst walks you through six representative phishing messages and explains what aspects of them should trigger warning bells.

Watchlist

Brings improvements and bug fixes to the password manager. ($35.88 annual subscription new, free update, 2.9 MB, macOS 10.15+)

Maintenance release with several tweaks and improvements for the writing app. ($5.99/$49.99 monthly/yearly subscription, free update, 29.7 MB, macOS 11+)

Maintenance release with improvements and fixes for the spam-filtering utility. ($30 new, free update, 21.3 MB, macOS 10.13+)

ExtraBITS

Have you ever wondered just how expansive Apple's Services division has become? Apple SVP of Services Eddy Cue highlights the accomplishments of the company's various services in 2022.

Apple’s new Apple Business Connect service lets brick-and-mortar businesses claim their location place cards so they can customize how their business appears in Apple Maps, Siri, and other Apple apps. It’s worth doing, and don’t forget to create a Google Business Profile as well.

Ever wondered what format to use when creating a disk image in Disk Utility? After comparing the three main types on space efficiency, performance, and convenience, Howard Oakley came up with a clear winner.

#1642: How to identify phishing attacks, new iPhone and iPad passcode requirements

iPhones and iPads Now Require a Passcode on Every Backup/Sync

An Annotated Field Guide to Identifying Phish

Watchlist

1Password 8.9.13

Ulysses 29.2

SpamSieve 2.9.51

ExtraBITS

Eddy Cue Looks Back on Apple’s 2022 Year in Services

New Apple Business Connect Lets Businesses Create Custom Place Cards

Howard Oakley Determines the Best Disk Image Format