Newsletter Archives
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May’s messy updates
PATCH WATCH
By Susan Bradley
Although the May releases for both Windows and Apple have not introduced side effects or hiccups so far, they haven’t been as problem-free as they should have been.
Apple released the first of its “rapid response” updates, announced last June and supposedly allowing the company to deploy important security-only software updates without demanding a reboot.
Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.20.0, 2023-05-15).
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Choosing the right email program
SOFTWARE
By Lance Whitney
Whether you use a Windows PC, iPhone, iPad, or Android device, there are a number of options for email clients other than the usual suspects.
The email program you use depends to a large degree on the type of device or operating system you use. On a Windows PC, you may turn to the default Windows Mail client, or to Outlook if you subscribe to Microsoft 365. Those of you who own an iPhone or iPad will likely fire up the built-in Mail app. And most Android users probably stick with Gmail.
Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (19.28.0, 2022-07-11).
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The Apple M2 arrives
APPLE NEWS
By Will Fastie
This wasn’t quite the shoe everyone hoped would be dropping.
As you know from previous Apple News installments, our focus has been on developments related to Apple silicon. Our oft-stated reason for this is that, for the first time in decades, Apple devices might be more interesting to our readers, especially the large number who already own an Apple device.
Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (19.24.0, 2022-06-13).
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Look who’s stalking 2: Apple responds to AirTag security threats
ISSUE 19.10 • 2022-03-07 PUBLIC DEFENDER
By Brian Livingston
The Apple AirTag, a $29 tracker the company started selling last year, has been criticized by experts for its weak protections against criminals who use the device to stalk people and pinpoint vehicles to steal. In response, Apple posted last month a response that promises only minor upgrades to the gadgets’ software.
Meanwhile, a developer announced recently that he had built — using a few dollars’ worth of electronic parts — an AirTag-like clone that takes full advantage of Apple’s free and worldwide Find My communication network. As an illustration of the weakness of AirTags, the clone easily defeats all of Apple’s existing security and detection systems, including the new features the corporation said last month it was planning to implement in the future.
Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 19.10.0 (2022-03-07).
This story also appears in the AskWoody Newsletter 19.10.F (2022-03-07). -
Keeping an eye on Apple updates
PATCH WATCH
By Susan Bradley
In 2022, we will start to pay a bit more attention to security and update issues related to Apple devices and possibly other environments, such as Android.
Don’t worry — our focus will continue to be on our core mission, which is providing guidance for the huge installed base of Windows PCs and servers. What we’ve learned over the past year is that many in our audience use something other than a Windows PC as a secondary device, and that almost everyone carries a smartphone. Apple’s device lineup is an obvious choice for second devices. And it appears Apple’s efforts with its own silicon, especially the M1 chip, are increasing interest in Macintosh PCs and high-end iPads.
Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 19.06.0 (2022-02-07).
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Look who’s stalking: Protect yourself from Apple AirTags
PUBLIC DEFENDER
By Brian Livingston
Ever since Apple started selling $29 tracking devices called AirTags last April, criminal types have used them to tail people, pinpoint and heist their cars, and worse — but warnings of planted devices were made available only to iPhone owners. Now, people who have more common phones can find out whether they’re being tracked, too.
The AirTag is a small, plastic-encased device that’s approximately the size of three or four dollar coins stacked on top of each other. It competes with such trackers as the Bluetooth-based Tile Pro and the GPS-based Verizon Humx. But most Bluetooth devices connect only to phones within 50 meters or so, and GPS trackers require you to pay monthly fees.
Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 19.02.0 (2022-01-10).
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Apple gives privacy one minute
APPLE NEWS
By Silvia Eckert
“California streaming” ducks the controversial CSAM issue at last week’s annual iPhone event.
As reported by Brian Livingston in his column Apple plans to break its end-to-end encryption (AskWoody 2021-08-30), Apple announced about a month ago an initiative to limit the distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) by looking for inappropriate imagery on its customers’ devices and reporting occurrences to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. But because the technology represented what amounted to surveillance that could be applied to virtually anything, an enormous amount of backlash against the initiative occurred.
Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.36.0 (2021-09-20).
This story also appears in the AskWoody Free Newsletter 18.36.F (2021-09-20). -
Apple plans to break its end-to-end encryption
PUBLIC DEFENDER
By Brian Livingston
Apple Computer shocked computer-security experts when the Cupertino company announced on August 5 that it plans to circumvent end-to-end encryption in Mac and iOS software, reporting US users if more than a few photos in their iCloud account match a national database of child pornography.
“We want to help protect children from predators who use communication tools to recruit and exploit them, and limit the spread of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM),” Apple said in its announcement. But people with experience in the subject said the technology would be used for everything other than that.
Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.33.0 (2021-08-30).
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Other Apple privacy practices
ISSUE 18.18 • 2021-05-17 APPLE
By Nathan Parker
Not all privacy settings are neatly contained in the main Settings app in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
In my previous articles in this series on Apple’s privacy settings, I enumerated those found in what we might call the “usual places.” There are some others involving privacy that are found elsewhere. This final article in the series will help you find those “out of the box” controls.
Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.18.0 (2021-05-17).
This story also appears in the AskWoody Free Newsletter 18.18.F (2021-05-17). -
Take control of your Mac’s privacy
ISSUE 18.16 • 2021-05-03 APPLE
By Nathan Parker
Apple’s emphasis on privacy is focused on personal devices, such as iPads and iPhones. But Macs have privacy settings, too.
In my recent article “Take control of your privacy — iPhone & iPad” (AskWoody 18.12, 2021-04-05), I discussed many of the settings provided by iOS and iPadOS to control the privacy and security of the device and the apps running on it. Although one might think all Apple systems would be in lockstep, I have noticed that the settings in macOS are not quite as granular, not quite as detailed, as those in iOS/iPadOS.
Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.16.0 (2021-05-03).
This story also appears in the AskWoody Free Newsletter 18.16.F (2021-05-03). -
New M1 devices from Apple
APPLE NEWS
By Will Fastie
Last week Apple welcomed more models into its family of M1-powered devices, including two new iPads!
I listened to last Tuesday’s Apple event announcing a new iMac and the new iPads as well as several other less important products. I have a lot of thoughts not only about the products, but also about how Apple might interact with us in the future.
Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.15.0 (2021-04-26).
This story also appears in the AskWoody Free Newsletter 18.15.F (2021-04-26). -
Take control of your privacy – iPhone & iPad
APPLE
Take control of your privacy – iPhone & iPadBy Nathan Parker
Apple heavily promotes its devices and services as being focused on your privacy, especially for those who heavily use Apple’s built-in apps and services.
Apple has a prominent page on its site devoted to its view of privacy.
Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.12.0 (2021-04-05).