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Tag: Mac

  • Beware of sneaky software thieves on your Mac

    Beware of sneaky software thieves on your Mac

    Mac computers are facing a growing problem with a type of harmful software known as “stealers.” A recent report from 2025 by Malwarebytes, a company that specializes in malware defense, highlights this trend.

    Traditionally, Mac users have mostly dealt with annoying adware or browser hijackers like VSearch or Genieo. However, 2024 marked a shift with a rise in more dangerous malware, specifically information stealers.

    These stealers are crafted to hunt down valuable data such as credit card details, login cookies, cryptocurrency, and passwords. This information is gold for cybercriminals looking to profit from their theft.

    Often, these malicious programs sneak onto your Mac when you’re looking to download legitimate software. Criminals use deceptive ads on search engines like Google or Bing, where you might click on what seems like a real download link but ends up installing malware instead. They target users by customizing ads based on your location, what software you’re looking for, and even your operating system.

    One notorious stealer, called Atomic Stealer or AMOS, first appeared in 2023. Its variant, Poseidon, has become quite popular among hackers. Poseidon claims it can swipe cryptocurrency from over 160 different digital wallets, plus steal passwords from various browsers and some password managers. It disguises itself as popular Mac apps, like the Arc Browser, to fool users into downloading it.

    Malwarebytes warns that with stealers like Poseidon, attackers can not only steal your information but also use it to craft sophisticated scams.

    To protect yourself, always check the source of your downloads. Make sure you’re getting software from trusted developers and not from questionable websites that mimic real ones. This vigilance can help keep your Mac safe from these sneaky thieves.

    Source

  • New feature in Outlook for Mac: Undo Your Sent Emails

    New feature in Outlook for Mac: Undo Your Sent Emails

    Microsoft is now adding a handy feature to Outlook for Mac that lets you take back emails you’ve sent, similar to a great feature Apple introduced for Mail. This update makes sure that the Mac version of Outlook matches up with what’s available on Windows and online. This new feature is called “Recall” – not to be confused with another Microsoft product of the same name. It works much like Apple’s “Undo Send” option, which was added to Mail back in 2022.

    The concept is simple: you’ve sent an email and then you spot a typo, or maybe you’ve said something you wish you hadn’t. You want to stop that email from being read. Apple’s method is pretty basic. It gives you a small window of time, a few seconds before the email leaves your outbox.

    Microsoft’s Recall, however, goes a bit further but with some restrictions. Here’s how it operates:

    • The recall only activates after you hit “Send”.
    • It only works if both you and the person you’re emailing use Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Exchange accounts within the same company.
    • If you’re sending to or from personal email services like Hotmail, Gmail, or live.com, you won’t be able to use this feature.

    This means you can retract an email well beyond the initial send buffer, but only if everyone involved uses Microsoft professional accounts within the same organization. It’s perfect for workplace communications where you might need to correct a message. Currently, Recall for Outlook on Mac is in its testing phase but will soon be available to all users.

    Source

  • Microsoft Defender VPN for Mac and iPhone to end service soon

    Microsoft Defender VPN for Mac and iPhone to end service soon

    If you’re a Mac or iPhone user with a Microsoft 365 subscription, there’s some news you should know. Microsoft has announced that the Defender VPN service will stop working at the end of February 2025. According to a support document from Microsoft, they haven’t given a clear reason, but it looks like not many people were using this feature.

    The document states, “The privacy protection (VPN) feature within Defender will no longer be available after February 28, 2025. We regularly check how our features are used and how well they work. We’ve decided to stop this feature to focus on new areas that will better meet what our customers need.” This change was first noticed by the site Windows Latest.

    For those who don’t know, Microsoft Defender VPN was not widely known because it was only available to Microsoft 365 subscribers in the United Kingdom, the United States, and some US territories. It didn’t expand to other countries.

    Although it provided some privacy protection, it wasn’t helpful for those wanting to access content from different countries, like watching videos not available in their region. This is because, unlike other VPNs like NordVPN, you couldn’t pick which server to connect to; it automatically chose one near your location.

    Source

  • How to stop your Mac from automatically waking up

    How to stop your Mac from automatically waking up

    Apple’s latest Macs with their own special chips are set up to automatically turn on when you open the lid or plug them in. But if you’re not a fan of this, there’s a way to stop it in macOS Sequoia.

    In a helpful guide, Apple explains how you can tweak your Mac so it doesn’t start up when you’d rather it stay off. Here’s what you need to do:

    • Check your macOS: Ensure your Mac with Apple’s chip is running macOS Sequoia or a newer version.
    • Open Terminal: Find the Terminal app in the Utilities folder under Applications.
    • Enter the Command: Type one of these commands into Terminal, then hit Enter:
      • To stop startup when opening the lid or plugging in: [sudo nvram BootPreference=%00](https://x.com/i/grok?text=sudo%20nvram%20BootPreference%3D%2500)
      • To stop startup just when opening the lid: [sudo nvram BootPreference=%01](https://x.com/i/grok?text=sudo%20nvram%20BootPreference%3D%2501)
      • To stop startup just when plugging in: [sudo nvram BootPreference=%02](https://x.com/i/grok?text=sudo%20nvram%20BootPreference%3D%2502)
    • Password Time: You’ll need to enter your admin password (you won’t see the characters as you type), then hit Enter again.

    If you decide you want your Mac to wake up automatically again, just open Terminal and type [sudo nvram -d BootPreference](https://x.com/i/grok?text=sudo%20nvram%20-d%20BootPreference) to undo the changes.

    This little trick lets you control when your Mac decides to come to life, keeping you in charge of your device’s power management.

  • A Virtual Shift: Why Apple Vision Pro might just lure me back to the Mac

    A Virtual Shift: Why Apple Vision Pro might just lure me back to the Mac

    For years, my iPad Pro has been my trusty digital companion, a versatile device that’s handled everything from writing and editing to browsing and entertainment. I’ve occasionally flirted with the idea of returning to the Mac ecosystem, but nothing ever quite tipped the scales. Until now. A recent development, born from Apple’s foray into spatial computing, has me seriously reconsidering my computing setup for 2025.

    My journey with the iPad Pro began with a desire for simplicity. I was tired of juggling multiple devices – a Mac, an iPad, and an iPhone – each serving distinct but overlapping purposes. The iPad Pro, with its promise of tablet portability and laptop-like functionality, seemed like the perfect solution.

    It offered a streamlined workflow and a minimalist approach to digital life that I found incredibly appealing. I embraced the iPadOS ecosystem, adapting my workflow and finding creative solutions to any limitations.

    Recently, I added a new piece of technology to my arsenal: the Apple Vision Pro. I’d experienced it in controlled demos before, but finally owning one has been a game-changer. I’ll delve into the specifics of my decision to purchase it another time, but one particular feature played a significant role: Mac Virtual Display.

    This feature, which has seen substantial improvements in the latest visionOS update (version 2.2), is the catalyst for my potential return to the Mac. It’s not strictly a Mac feature, but rather a bridge between the Vision Pro and macOS.

    The updated Mac Virtual Display boasts several key enhancements: expanded wide and ultrawide display modes, a significant boost in display resolution, and improved audio routing. While I can’t speak to the previous iteration of the feature, this refined version has truly impressed me.

    Currently, the native app ecosystem for visionOS is still developing. Many of my essential applications, such as my preferred writing tool, Ulysses, and my go-to image editors, are not yet available. This makes Mac Virtual Display crucial for productivity within the Vision Pro environment. It allows me to access the full power of macOS and my familiar desktop applications within the immersive world of spatial computing.

    This brings me back to my original reason for switching to the iPad Pro. Just as I once sought to consolidate my devices, I now find myself facing a similar dilemma. I want to fully utilize the Vision Pro for work and creative tasks, and Mac Virtual Display is currently the most effective way to do so.

    This presents two options: I could divide my time between the Mac and iPad Pro, juggling two distinct platforms once again, or I could embrace a single, unified ecosystem. The same desire for simplicity that led me away from the Mac in the past is now pulling me back.

    I don’t envision wearing the Vision Pro all day, every day. Nor do I plan to use it during all remote work sessions (at least not initially). However, if I’m using macOS within the Vision Pro, it makes logical sense to maintain a consistent experience by using a Mac for my non-Vision Pro work as well.

    The idea of using the same operating system, the same applications, whether I’m immersed in a virtual environment or working at my desk, is incredibly appealing. It offers a seamless transition and eliminates the friction of switching between different operating systems and workflows.

    Of course, there are still aspects of the Mac that I’d need to adjust to if I were to fully transition away from the iPad Pro. But the Vision Pro, and specifically the improved Mac Virtual Display, has reignited my interest in the Mac in a way I haven’t felt in years.

    It’s created a compelling synergy between the two platforms, offering a glimpse into a potentially more unified and streamlined future of computing. Whether this leads to a full-fledged return to the Mac in 2025 remains to be seen. But the possibility is definitely on the table, and I’m excited to see how things unfold.