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OS X

Guide to Installing / Upgrading a z68x Hackintosh to Mountain Lion

posted onJuly 18, 2012
by l33tdawg

With the Gold Master of Apple’s next ‘big cat’ operating system, Mountain Lion aka OS X 10.8 released to developers last week, it seems like a good a time as any to write up a quick install / upgrade guide for all Gigabyte z68x-UD3-B3 hackintosh users. (Note: If you’re looking for the OS X 10.7 install guide from last year, the link is here). 

Windows 8 gets 'Time Machine' style backup with 'File History'

posted onJuly 11, 2012
by l33tdawg

Backing up your data is an important task that most of us neglect to do. Windows has included backup software of some kind for a long time now, but few people actually use it, because they forget, or don't understand it, or don't know it's there, or simply can't be bothered.

Microsoft's latest attempt to get Windows users to back up their files is Windows 8's File History. File History is an automatic point-in-time backup system that periodically saves snapshots of your data to a separate location (either a network file share or a directly attached hard disk).

Java-based Web attack installs backdoors on Windows, Linux, Mac computers

posted onJuly 11, 2012
by l33tdawg

A new Web-based social engineering attack that relies on malicious Java applets attempts to install backdoors on Windows, Linux and Mac computers, according to security researchers from antivirus vendors F-Secure and Kaspersky Lab.

The attack was detected on a compromised website in Colombia, F-Secure senior analyst Karmina Aquino, said in a blog post on Monday. When users visit the site, they are prompted to run a Java applet that hasn't been signed by a trusted certificate authority.

Apple adjusts its tune on security in OS X

posted onJune 26, 2012
by l33tdawg

As part of its marketing for OS X, Apple has promoted security of its operating system by making claims to the effect of OS X doesn't get PC viruses -- a stance that has been repeated on its Web site and in various television commercials. While technically true, this claim has been somewhat misleading to consumers who interpret it as there being no malware in any form for OS X. Apple appears to be addressing this confusion with a couple of recent changes to its Web site's rhetoric on security.

Apple's Mountain Lion to offer automatic security updates

posted onJune 26, 2012
by l33tdawg

It was revealed on Monday that Apple's upcoming OS X Mountain Lion will feature an automatic security check feature that will ensure users have the most up-to-date software protection amid a growing number of Mac-targeted malware.

An update to the Mountain Lion Developer Preview shows a new automated system that runs a daily check with Apple's servers to make sure OS X 10.8 users have the most current security patches and protections against known malware and viruses.

Engineering mistake exposes Lion passwords in clear-text

posted onMay 7, 2012
by l33tdawg

Apple's latest update to OS X contains a dangerous programming error that reveals the passwords for material stored in the first version of FileVault, the company's encryption technology, a software consultant said.

David I. Emery wrote on Cryptome that a debugging switch inadvertently left on in the current release of Lion, version 10.7.3, records in clear text the password needed to open the folder encrypted by the older version of FileVault.

Apple May Add Secure Password Suggestions in Mountain Lion

posted onApril 23, 2012
by l33tdawg

1Password is a popular password service which offers apps and browser plug-ins for a number of platforms, including Mac, Windows, iOS and Android. The service automatically generates strong, unique passwords whenever a login is needed, keeping them in a keychain under a master password. Once authorized, 1Password can then automatically fill in user names and passwords when needed without the user having to know the often complex passwords created for maximum security. 

Five OS X security threats that fizzled

posted onApril 16, 2012
by l33tdawg

Macs have been relatively safe from the kind of viruses that plagued Windows users through the last couple decades. But once it was revealed that a variation of Flashback was able to create a botnet of more than half a million Macs thanks to an unpatched Java vulnerability users stood up and took notice. OS X has largely been free of viruses and worms up to this point, but that still doesn't stop unsuspecting users from being tricked into typing an admin password into a cleverly (or, sometimes, not-so-cleverly) disguised installer.