A European Union shopper advocate describes how Apple fails to adjust to DMA. An reason Contact ID doesn’t all the time work: you could have negligible fingerprints. It’s potential to obtain a broken iPhone alternative as a substitute of a repaired one. And buying and selling in your Apple gadgets could be a good suggestion proper now, as a result of costs are wanting good.
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Transcript of Intego Mac Podcast episode 360
Voice Over 0:00
That is the Intego Mac Podcast—the voice of Mac safety—for Thursday, September 5, 2024. This week’s Intego Mac podcast safety headlines embrace: A European Union shopper advocate describes how Apple fails to adjust to DMA. An reason Contact ID doesn’t all the time work— you could have negligible fingerprints. It’s potential to obtain a broken iPhone alternative as a substitute of a repaired one. And buying and selling in your Apple gadgets could be a good suggestion proper now, as a result of costs are wanting good. Now, listed below are the hosts of the Intego Mac Podcast. Veteran Mac journalist, Kirk McElhearn. And Intego’s. Chief Safety Analyst, Josh Lengthy.
Kirk McElhearn 0:48
Good morning. Josh, how are you at present?
Josh Lengthy 0:50
I’m doing effectively. How are you, Kirk?
Re-start your browser to make sure it will get up to date
Kirk McElhearn 0:52
It’s Thursday, and which means it’s restart your browser day.
Josh Lengthy 0:56
It is a new factor that we determined we have been going to give you, proper? As a result of each week, it looks like there’s some vulnerabilities that get patched in browsers, not actually each week, however it’s usually sufficient. They’re not zero day vulnerabilities essentially, however on a fairly common foundation, Google is popping out with new chromium variations, and so it’s most likely a good suggestion to simply ensure you’re updating your browser as soon as every week, and the very best, simplest way to ensure your chromium based mostly browser is updated is simply quitting it and restarting it.
Kirk McElhearn 1:30
I had to make use of Microsoft Edge this morning, so I often use Safari, which doesn’t have the identical downside. Safari updates include working system updates, and it knowledgeable me that my browser was updated that had simply put in an replace. Now, since I’m used to my browser updating with the working system, I wouldn’t consider checking within the browser. All the opposite apps I do know that get updates, they both use sparkle, which is a framework that builders use. That is the factor you see once you get a dialog that is available in entrance from an app that claims an replace out there. Click on to replace. It downloads and it relaunches the app, or updates within the Mac App Retailer, which I actually don’t test off and I’m wanting now, it looks like there’s two updates out there, however browsers aren’t one thing even reflexively, I wouldn’t suppose to test for updates in browsers, as a result of Don’t you suppose the browser needs to be extra aggressive and displaying a dialog saying, hey, you might want to restart your browser to replace it.
Josh Lengthy 2:24
Yeah, I believe so. And more often than not what you’ll see in many of the Chromium based mostly browsers, so that is, you recognize, Google Chrome, clearly, and Microsoft Edge, courageous and different browsers could have a little bit indicator icon, often form of close to the highest proper nook of a window, that’ll provide you with some little tiny trace that there could be an replace out there to your browser.
Kirk McElhearn 2:47
Little tiny trace for one thing that may very well be a critical replace. Little tiny trace doesn’t appear very sturdy.
Josh Lengthy 2:53
Proper? And that trace is dependent upon your specific browser, however it could be like a little bit arrow that factors up with a little bit inexperienced circle round it in Edge, for instance. But it surely will get a little bit bit extra insistent the longer you go between updates, as a result of it’ll begin to perhaps it’ll be yellow subsequent time, or pink if like, there’s a very important replace that you just haven’t put in but. So anyway, it’s simply a good suggestion when you can simply give up your browser daily. The actually, the one cause to not do this, perhaps, is when you’re proper in the course of one thing, perhaps you’ve acquired a kind midway stuffed out. Even in that case, chances are high you would possibly get logged out of the location anyway, when you come again to it hours later. However until you’ve acquired non-public searching home windows open, there’s actually not a complete lot of cause to maintain your browser operating on a regular basis, and in addition Chromium is form of infamous for being reminiscence hog, in order that’s one other good cause to ensure you give up your browser once you’re not utilizing it, to filter out all that further reminiscence which may nonetheless be used.
We’re every week away from Apple’s annual September product bulletins
Kirk McElhearn 3:54
We began this final Thursday. I don’t suppose I’m going to recollect each Thursday, and we don’t want the total clarification each Thursday, however I’ll attempt to bear in mind occasionally. Now, we simply need to remind people who subsequent Monday, September 9, assuming you’re listening to this earlier than, Monday September 9, is Apple’s annual occasion the place they’re presenting new iPhones and Apple watches and perhaps different {hardware}. We don’t know. They are going to be asserting the provision dates for iOS, 18, iPadOS, 18, Mac OS, Sequoia. WatchOS, 11 TV. OS, one thing, dwelling. Os one thing, imaginative and prescient. Os one thing, did I miss? Did I go away something out?
Josh Lengthy 4:29
I believe that just about covers all of it. Yeah, after all, the occasion is generally going to be centered on the brand new iPhones and new Apple watches. That’s what Apple all the time comes out with yearly at the moment. So clearly, that essentially signifies that we’re going to be getting iOS updates together with the brand new telephones which are popping out, as a result of they may ship with the brand new iOS model. And more often than not, they ship fairly shortly. So it could be as quickly as subsequent Friday, every week from tomorrow, that we’ll have the ability to pre order the brand new iPhones and perhaps get. Um, as quickly as perhaps every week after that, we’ll see.
European Union catalogs Apple’s DMA violations
Kirk McElhearn 5:02
Okay, so it is a sluggish information week due to all these things that Apple is ready on, and we’ve got a a potpourri of tales this week. Would that be a very good phrase? Let’s begin with an EU shopper group that has been summarizing how Apple has didn’t adjust to the DMA. The DMA is a digital markets act, and that is the European Fee laws that required Apple to permit third social gathering app shops and another issues, like entry to the NFC chip. I don’t bear in mind who wrote about this final week, however somebody identified this. That is going to be the primary time that Apple introduces a brand new iPhone, that there are literally two new iPhones. Not that the iPhone {hardware} is completely different, however that what you are able to do on the iPhone is completely different relying on the place you might be. Now it’s all the time been the case that nations like China, for instance, have banned sure apps and also you couldn’t use these on the iPhone or an Android cellphone. However right here we’re speaking about, I need to say, core options about the way in which you get apps onto an iPhone. There may be this listing of issues that Apple has achieved or has not achieved to adjust to the DMA, proper?
Josh Lengthy 6:03
And so the temporary abstract is principally crucial factor is that in case you are in an EU nation, you’ve gotten entry to have the ability to get third social gathering apps from outdoors of the App Retailer ecosystem. So presently, when you’re nearly anywhere else on the earth, in nearly each circumstance, the one method you can actually get apps persistently and simply is to get them from the Apple App Retailer. That’s it. There’s no possibility for downloading an app from an internet site or from a 3rd social gathering app retailer. Not likely. That’s there’s form of a little bit little bit of an asterisk on there, as a result of there are some form of ways in which you are able to do it, however it’s very troublesome, and it’s not supported, actually by Apple. So actually successfully, you solely have the App Retailer as an possibility. Now within the EU you do have another choices, however this shopper rights group is saying that Apple’s not doing such an amazing job due to all the additional steps that it’s important to undergo. So one of many issues that they are saying is Apple creates pointless steps to impede or deter customers from switching to various app shops or downloading apps from outdoors of the App Retailer. Properly, that is form of partly, as a result of Apple’s making an attempt to guard its prospects and defend the gadgets, proper? They don’t need to make it really easy for anyone to simply, you recognize, distribute third social gathering apps by an internet site, as a result of, effectively, guess what? It’s also possible to get malware doubtlessly that method as effectively. And in order that’s Apple’s argument as effectively. We’re doing this to guard shoppers and ensure they’re not going to get contaminated with drive by downloads or no matter like we need to preserve the iPhone sacred and safe and never need to have these considerations like we do on on Mac OS, which they don’t actually need to make an enormous deal out of.
What motivates consumers to get a brand new iPhone?
Kirk McElhearn 7:57
Yeah, you may then stole issues from virtually anyplace on Mac OS. They do need to be code signed and all of that, however you may nonetheless set up issues in the event that they’re not code signed. So sure, Apple has a technique to go together with the DMA. Now, speaking about new iPhones is an attention-grabbing story that simply got here out on Apple insider, which I imply, this actually corresponds to what I’ve been studying and to what folks have been speaking about this comes from a examine by Shopper Clever Analysis Companions, CIRP, who researches cell phone gross sales and issues like that. And the article says most iPhone consumers prioritize want over new options and newest upgrades. And there’s a pie chart right here. Individuals will improve their cellphone if it’s out of date. 44% of individuals will improve their cellphone if it’s out of date. 29% of 9% of it’s misplaced, damaged or stolen. Solely 18% if there’s new options. And I believe that is most likely been, effectively, the iPhone got here out in 2007 so that is 17 years. And I’d say for the previous 5 – 6 years, there haven’t been that many new options which have pushed folks to purchase telephones. And it’s not simply iPhone, it’s Android as effectively. This isn’t particular to Apple, and each time Apple introduces a brand new iPhone with all these cool new options, I can’t assist however considering that most individuals don’t care about them in any respect. If you happen to return to the iPhone 12, that was the primary to help 5g it’s virtually laughable, if you wish to return and take a look at the 20 minutes that they talked about how Quick 5g was and the way it was going to alter your life, and the way it did completely nothing and fell flat. Type of jogs my memory of 3d TVs. They have been an enormous factor, and now nobody cares. So this yr may very well be completely different for the iPhone due to the apple intelligence options you can solely get with the iPhone 16 or with the Professional fashions of the iPhone 15 you will get on some iPad, however for the iPhone, you’re restricted, proper?
Josh Lengthy 9:45
And I’ve seen some hypothesis about that, that there could be a little bit little bit of an uptick this yr in comparison with all of the earlier years, particularly for that cause. So AI is form of one thing that plenty of shoppers are conscious of. I imply. Even discuss it on, you recognize, on the information and stuff. So it’s one thing that persons are have gotten conscious of, and the they most likely are gonna like the concept of, Oh, I get fancy AI options, however oh man, I gotta purchase a brand new cellphone for it. And, okay, effectively, I assume I’ll get the most recent mannequin.
Kirk McElhearn 10:16
It’s not simply I gotta purchase a brand new cellphone. It’s $1,000 new cellphone, proper? It’s not simply dropping $300 for an Android cellphone. It’s $1,000 for an Apple cellphone. Perhaps, perhaps it’s going to be one at 800 proper? The iPhone 16, non professional small. However you recognize, it’s, this isn’t a small buy a cellphone.
Josh Lengthy 10:35
No, that’s true. The truth is, lots of people, effectively, as you talked about, some folks, 44% of individuals apparently, usually solely replace their cellphone when it’s out of date. I used to be simply speaking to any person yesterday who was utilizing an iPhone 6s in order that they’re restricted to iOS 15, and so they have been speaking about how sure apps like after they tried to obtain them from the App Retailer, it says, Properly, you may obtain an older model of this app that’s suitable together with your cellphone, however they have been having some performance issues, and the app wasn’t working for them. And I’m like, Properly, yeah, as a result of the developer shouldn’t be really updating that app anymore, so that you might be able to obtain an outdated model, however that doesn’t imply it’s really nonetheless going to work.
Contact ID not so nice recognizing worn fingerprints
Kirk McElhearn 11:14
Okay, there was an attention-grabbing article in Wired final week. It says, struggling to unlock your cellphone, you might need misplaced your fingerprints. I’m certain we each know individuals who have hassle utilizing Contact ID on an iPhone. I’ve identified a number of folks for whom it simply wouldn’t work reliably, perhaps as soon as out of each 10 occasions. The Wired article says the absence of those figuring out marks, which may be the results of extreme typing, guide work, chemotherapy or sports activities, is turning into extra of a problem within the age of biometrics. Now the one iPhone that Apple sells with Contact ID is the third era iPhone SE that got here out within the spring of 2022 the low value iPad makes use of Contact ID. It has contact ID on the facility button. The iPad mini nonetheless has contact ID on the facility button, however lots of people are nonetheless utilizing these older telephones, just like the individual you discuss to with an iPhone success which have such ID. Now this text, if it’s speaking about current telephones, it’s extra about Android, as a result of I don’t suppose there’s any actually dependable face ID on Android. The truth is, when the Google Pixel 9 cellphone got here out every week or two in the past, one of many professionals I noticed on listing of professionals and cons was that the fingerprint sensor is ultrasonic as a substitute of optical, so it’s twice as quick as earlier than. With iPhones, we’re used to utilizing face ID for nearly each cellphone. With Android is completely different. The article begins speaking about somebody who misplaced her fingerprints when she began mountain climbing. And it’s true when you’re doing a sport like that, that is going to occur. Apparently, you probably have chemotherapy, this will occur as you age, your fingerprints go away. And apparently, the individual went to get fingerprinted to use for citizenship, and the police couldn’t get a very good fingerprint. Now this goes each methods. Proper. On the one hand, you may’t get fingerprinted when you might want to be fingerprinted for one thing like this, however alternatively, when you’ve misplaced your fingerprints, you may’t get caught when you commit against the law, and so they can discover your fingerprints.
Josh Lengthy 12:59
Properly, in any case, it may very well be an issue for you when you’re making an attempt to get into your cellphone. This most likely isn’t tremendous frequent that folks lose their fingerprints. It most likely for most individuals, when you do lose your fingerprints, it’s most likely most probably to occur like over time, and perhaps not whilst you nonetheless have the identical cellphone that you just initially enrolled your fingerprints in. However anyway, form of an attention-grabbing article.
Kirk McElhearn 13:22
Yeah, one thing to contemplate. You’re planning to purchase a tool that makes use of Contact ID nowadays. If in case you have issues already with Contact ID, after all, you may simply faucet your passcode. So don’t make a simple passcode. Be sure that it’s safe. We’re going to take a break. Then we’re going to speak about buying and selling in your iPhone and different apple gadgets to get some a refund to purchase a brand new one,
Voice Over 13:42
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Stealer Malware of the Week, come on down!
Kirk McElhearn 14:57
Okay, so it’s malware time. It’s nonetheless. Time we must always say, as a result of each week we’ve got a brand new metal or malware, and we’ve got this one this week, Cheana, Cheana Stealer. Is it completely different from any of the opposite stealer malware, or does it simply steal the identical stuff?
Josh Lengthy 15:10
It’s just about the identical as all of the others, however it however there’s a brand new one with a brand new identify. So hey, we thought we’d point out it, simply in case you noticed the headlines. So don’t fear. If you happen to’ve acquired Intego software program, you can be protected.
Kirk McElhearn 15:21
Okay, what about HZ RAT?
Josh Lengthy 15:25
This one was a little bit bit attention-grabbing, simply because, effectively, it’s a distant entry Trojan, so it’s a little bit bit completely different from form of your simply generic stealer malware, as a result of rats basically provide a again door into your system for some attacker. So it does extra than simply gathering stuff and exfiltrating it. It additionally offers attackers a technique to get into your laptop and ship it instructions and different issues like that. So after all, it might probably do all of the stealer stuff as effectively, however it does proceed to provide entry to your laptop so an attacker can log in remotely. There have been a few Chinese language apps. There was one referred to as DingTalk, one other one which could be very widespread, referred to as WeChat, that each had Trojan variations of them on the market. And when you occur to obtain one among these trojanized variations of the app, then you definately would really get this HC rat put in. That is the primary time I consider that Hz rat has been out there on Mac OS. Beforehand, it had been identified to be distributed on Home windows. Now there’s additionally a Mac OS model. So as soon as once more, in one other case the place the unhealthy guys who’ve been concentrating on Home windows are actually saying, Perhaps we must always go after Mac customers too.
Kirk McElhearn 16:37
I like the way you say that. One other widespread Chinese language app, WeChat. Wikipedia says that by 2018 WeChat had been utilized by 93.5% of Chinese language web customers. It’s not widespread. It’s just like the app that everybody makes use of. It’s, it’s a platform. It’s extra than simply an app, appropriate, proper?
Josh Lengthy 16:53
It’s extra extra than simply chat. It’s not simply an on the spot messaging program, proper?
What does Apple substitute your broken cellphone with?
Kirk McElhearn 16:58
Okay, so we’ve got an article, and we’re, I need to say we’re form of brief on particulars, however it does make sense. Somebody named Tim Voorhees wrote an article claiming that Apple repaired his iPhone display, however now his social media account is banned. Now you might not know this when you’ve by no means had an iPhone changed underneath Apple Care, you probably have Apple Care, plus, they don’t essentially restore the machine. They typically simply provide you with a brand new one. Now this may very well be a brand new retail, boxed one, or it may very well be a refurbished one, however they substitute your machine. If you happen to do that by mail, Apple sends you what they name the Categorical alternative service. They ship you the brand new one. They permit you 10 days to repeat your information and ship it again. If you happen to do it in individual, clearly they’re going to repeat the information straight away. So this individual talks about he had a cracked again glass on his iPhone and a damaged quantity button, and he says, a model new alternative cellphone. However he explains later that it was a refurbished cellphone as a result of he discovered that when he tried to log into Snapchat, that his cellphone was banned from utilizing Snapchat. Now there’s one thing that Apple makes use of referred to as the machine test, and it’s a framework that builders can use to report and write information a few machine. And you could possibly use this if somebody has been utilizing a tool fraudulently. Or Apple’s developer web page, which I linked to within the present notes, talks about perhaps they’ve taken benefit of a free trial for one thing already. It’s not clear how this works, even from Apple’s data. There have to be another method of figuring out the machine, which might be the MAC deal with, which is usually the machine identifier for all kinds of gadgets that use the community. However what most likely occurred is somebody used the machine maliciously. It acquired banned by Snapchat. Perhaps they traded it into Apple. We’re going to speak about commerce ins in a minute, and Apple refurbished it after which put it again into circulation as Apple Care alternative. It’s not completely clear how one can get round it, as a result of Apple can’t do something about this if it’s in Snapchat database, and Snapchat says it’s Apple’s fault. So even when you get a alternative cellphone, there may very well be some ways in which it might stop you from utilizing sure companies. Now he explains that Apple changed it once more, however once you get a alternative cellphone from Apple, it’s not a totally virgin iPhone, it’s most probably a refurbished cellphone, proper?
Josh Lengthy 19:14
So I believe that the vital takeaway right here, and initially that you recognize that is unconfirmed. That is one blogger who wrote about this. You may most likely discover related examples on the market, however, however so far as the machine test framework, that’s true. So it’s potential. Apple does clarify how it’s potential for a developer to to ban {hardware} or to lock out a selected piece of {hardware}, as you stated, from like free trials or one thing. Perhaps a trial interval expired, and if a developer says, I need to guarantee that it doesn’t matter what anyone does, they will’t get one other free trial from me, then a technique they might do that’s machine checks, so locking out that {hardware} from any additional free trials. So the issue is available in the place, you probably have gotten your cellphone changed. Slightly below, underneath guarantee or a restore from from an Apple Licensed Service Supplier, you need to just be sure you obtain all of the apps that you just’re seemingly to make use of on that cellphone sooner or later and simply log into these companies. And simply test and ensure do this fairly shortly after you get your alternative, simply in case, in order that when you do run into an issue like this, that just like the Snapchat band that this consumer describes, you may take it again to Apple and say, Hey, I bumped into this, presumably, machine test concern, and I would love you to exchange the cellphone once more, as a result of now I can’t use Snapchat, and it’s nothing that I did improper.
What are some suggestions for buying and selling in an Apple machine?
Kirk McElhearn 20:36
Yeah. So talking of repurposed telephones, it’s time to speak about buying and selling in your iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple Watch, as a result of subsequent week, you’re going to need to purchase a brand new iPhone. Now I’ve an iPhone 14 professional Max. I believe you do too. Or is it yours only a professional?
Josh Lengthy 20:50
Mine’s a Professional, not aMax.
Kirk McElhearn 20:52
Yours is only a Professional. So I seemed on Apple’s web site to see how a lot I might get for commerce in. Within the US, they provided me $620 and right here within the UK, they provide me 520 kilos, about the identical quantity. I consider the cellphone value 1099 kilos after I purchased it, so that is almost 50% of what I paid for this cellphone two years in the past. That’s fairly good. That’s very tempting to get folks to purchase a brand new cellphone. So Apple’s commerce in costs are partly to nudge you to purchase new telephones. However I checked on one other web site within the UK that buys used telephones. They provided me 575 kilos. There’s an enormous marketplace for used telephones, and there’s a number of causes. One is there’s these third events who purchase them after which resell them, and so they’ll promote them by their very own web sites, or they’ll promote them by Amazon or eBay, and so on. The second is Apple who they get to commerce in so you will get a brand new cellphone, however in addition they refurbish them to place them into circulation. For you recognize what we simply noticed, Apple Care replacements. And if Apple is providing this a lot cash, why would you not commerce in a cellphone? Proper then, I spent 1100 kilos off, and that I haven’t totally paid off as a result of I took it two years with 0% curiosity, and I completed paying it off in 10 days. Why would I not commerce it in for almost half that value and get the brand new cellphone for that a lot much less
Josh Lengthy 22:11
Precisely proper? And so I’m doing the identical factor, as a result of, effectively, I’m not going to want my 14 professional anymore as soon as I’ve my new 16 Professional. So I’ve been doing the identical factor. One factor that I’ve seen previously is that though you may promote the machine juice, and also you do usually make a little bit bit more cash if you understand how to correctly listing it. And that’s form of an vital level, is you might want to know initially how one can correctly put together the machine. We do have an article about that as effectively, and also you additionally must listing it in such a method that persons are going to have the ability to discover it and belief that you just’re going to be a dependable vendor. You might want to take really good photos of it to show that you just even have the machine in hand. You may’t simply use generic pictures, or folks will probably be much less more likely to bid on it, or purchase it now, or no matter. Relying on the way you’re going about promoting it, you may most likely make a little bit bit more cash that method, however it’s additionally going to require extra effort.
Kirk McElhearn 23:10
However there’s the effort issue. I’ve offered plenty of issues on eBay, and it’s a problem. Every time it’s an iPhone, you instantly get emails from folks saying, oh, I need to purchase it. And the way about if we simply do that, you recognize, outdoors of eBay, so that you’ll lower your expenses on the charges. And you recognize, that’s going to be a rip-off, as a result of they’re going to, they’re going to pay you, after which they’re going to say to eBay that they didn’t get the machine, or that it’s damaged, or no matter. You don’t need to do this even with native Fb teams market, it may be a problem. Doing it with Apple is the straightforward method. You’ll save time, and also you gained’t have to fret about it. Doing it with a few of these different third social gathering firms that I’ve labored with. They’re high quality as effectively. We listing a pair on this article that we’ve got about buying and selling in gadgets relying on what nation you’re in. There are others. I’ve used one right here referred to as Music Magpie, which purchase CDs and books and DVDs and telephones and issues like that. The opposite ones that provided me 575 kilos for my iPhone in comparison with Apple’s 520 Now it’s attention-grabbing to have a look at Apple’s commerce in values for various gadgets. I’ve an iPad Mini 4 years outdated, value 499 kilos. Apple is providing me 200 kilos for it for a 4 yr outdated iPad Mini, the identical iPad within the US, they’re providing $250 it was $500 within the US, 4 years outdated. That’s actually good. Nevertheless I’m working proper now. I’m Josh on my m1 iMac, that’s a little bit greater than three years outdated. That value 1600 1800 kilos, one thing like this. And Apple solely values this at a little bit greater than 300 kilos, I might promote this for half of what I paid on eBay. And I’ve offered max on eBay previously, and I often get about half. So it is dependent upon which machine they need you to commerce in, telephones to purchase new telephones. They don’t appear to care a lot about Max. One other factor is the Apple Watch. I’ve a collection eight chrome steel I consider. You suppose it’s fairly costly, like 799 kilos. I believe Apple’s providing me 189 to commerce it in. I imply, that’s simply ridiculous in comparison with what they’re providing for the iPad Mini that’s 4 years outdated. So relying on which machine you’ve gotten, you would possibly need to take into account buying and selling it into Apple or promoting to a different firm, otherwise you would possibly need to promote on eBay. Some time in the past, I offered a few outdated Apple TVs that I had on eBay. And sure, I had a field with Apple TVs, and I had by no means gotten round to it, and so they have been straightforward to promote. And also you would possibly need to look in that drawer the place you stored a bunch of Apple gadgets. One factor is, you may’t wait too lengthy. After two or three years, the worth goes down. Though the iPad Mini is de facto attention-grabbing, they’re providing a lot, which does recommend that perhaps there’s going to be a brand new iPad Mini quickly, and there’s been rumors to that. I need to provide you with one tip, once you commerce in a tool to Apple or anybody else, and this was somebody at Apple who advised me this a pair years in the past, put your machine within the packaging and take images all sides of the machine, as a result of the apple individual stated to me, they’ve had issues generally as a result of they’ve third social gathering firms that deal with these commerce ins, and so they stated they’ve had issues generally with individuals who the corporate claimed the machine was broken, and the individuals who traded them in stated the gadgets weren’t. So even Apple’s warning about that, and I’d say any firm you’re buying and selling into, ensure you take images, to guarantee that the display’s not broken, that there’s no chips on the glass or on the aspect or something.
Josh Lengthy 26:22
I’d advocate that you just do that anytime that you just’re promoting to any social gathering, since you by no means know what’s going to occur in cargo and different issues like that. It’s all the time a good suggestion to just be sure you can show that, that when it was final in your possession, that the whole lot was in fine condition.
Blackmail and “sextortion” emails use extra social engineering tips
Kirk McElhearn 26:37
Okay, we’ve got an article on the Mac Safety weblog, which is extraordinarily widespread. It’s entitled, “Porn blackmail, Sextortion. Emails, have you ever been hacked? A brand new rip-off, and I went by an e-mail that I acquired and defined why it wasn’t potential that what the scammer stated now, Brian Krebs, in his weblog, Krebs on safety, has stated that some folks have gotten the identical e-mail, however with one thing further, a Google Road View photograph of their dwelling, or in a single instance, they present the entrance yard of the individual’s dwelling. Now because of this the scammers went to the difficulty of discovering somebody’s deal with, wanting them up on Google Maps and taking a screenshot of the photograph that’s really a little bit bit extra disturbing than what I all the time thought was only a spray and pray e-mail that will get despatched to a complete bunch of individuals, proper?
Josh Lengthy 27:24
That undoubtedly signifies that it is a way more focused assault. Now it’s additionally most likely extra more likely to be more practical, proper? If, when you see a photograph of your individual dwelling, then it’s going to be much more regarding to you than an e-mail that simply may very well be generic, proper? Like this means that any person really took the time to focus on you, and subsequently this could be professional. That’s what they need you to suppose.
Kirk McElhearn 27:51
Properly, it could be professional, however the textual content of the emails, I believe, precisely the identical because the one which we wrote about a few months in the past. Price declaring, although, and Brian Krebs mentions that that is one thing that needs to be reported to the FBI. I really like that the FBI has a cellphone primary, 800 name FBI. Straightforward to recollect. This additionally raises a query of a narrative we noticed final week on It’s really ABC Information in California that persons are blurring their houses on Google Maps to discourage burglars. Right here’s how So apparently, burglars look on Google Maps to see you probably have a flowery automobile or some form of fancy issues in your porch earlier than deciding whether or not to burgle you. I discover {that a} little bit of a stretch. You drive down the road, you’ll see what folks have by their home, however you may have Google blur your property. You would possibly need to accomplish that when you’re nervous about these sextortion scams, or when you do get one among these extortion rip-off emails with a avenue view photograph of your property, proper?
Josh Lengthy 28:45
I don’t know that everyone wants to do that, however when you really feel like, to your personal privateness sake, that you’d moderately have Google blur your property, you are able to do that. So there’s an possibility for that, and we’ll have a hyperlink within the present notes the place you’ll find out extra about that.
Kirk McElhearn 29:00
Blurring the house appears to me a inform that you just’re making an attempt to cover one thing which could appeal to extra Burgos.
Josh Lengthy 29:06
That’s what I fear about. Yeah. So it’s not one thing that I personally do. I’m not tremendous nervous about it. I imply, like, if any person has your deal with, they will someway see what your property seems like anyway, proper? So, like, I don’t know that it actually issues that a lot. They’ll additionally see what all of the houses subsequent to your property seem like. And effectively, chances are high it was most likely constructed on the similar time, and so it seems loads just like the neighbors houses too. So I don’t know that there’s that a lot worth in it, however when you really feel extra comfy, you may actually blur your property.
Kirk McElhearn 29:35
Okay, that’s sufficient for this week. Subsequent week, we can clarify what we’ve got bought on Monday. Get your bank card or debit card prepared till subsequent week. Josh, keep safe.
Josh Lengthy 29:44
All proper. Keep safe.
Voice Over 29:47
Thanks for listening to the Intego Mac podcast. The voice of Mac safety together with your host, Kirk McElhearn and Josh lengthy to get each weekly episode. Remember to comply with us in Apple podcasts or subscribe in your favourite podcast app, and when you can go away a score, a like or a evaluation, hyperlinks to matters and data talked about within the podcast may be discovered within the present notes for the [email protected] the Intego web site can also be the place to seek out particulars on the total line of Intego safety and utility software program intego.com.
About Kirk McElhearn
Kirk McElhearn writes about Apple merchandise and extra on his weblog Kirkville.
He’s co-host of the Intego Mac Podcast, in addition to a number of different podcasts, and is a daily contributor to The Mac Safety Weblog, TidBITS, and a number of other different web sites and publications.
Kirk has written greater than two dozen books, together with Take Management books about Apple’s media apps, Scrivener, and LaunchBar.
Comply with him on Twitter at @mcelhearn.
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