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FCP.co friend Michael Kammes decided to build a Hacintosh, a computer built from parts that runs macOS. He succeeded, but was it worth it and would he do it again? He benchmarks NLE performance including FCPX. Macs can be expensive, but they work out of the box and we know that apps such as Final Cut Pro X are optimised for the machines. However, for those who feel up to the technical challenge, it is possible to build a computer to run macOS for a lot less money than buying a new Mac off the shelf. Michael Kammes got...

>Apple today released macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 Update which improves the stability, performance, and security of your Mac, and is recommended for all users. This update adds support for Messages in iCloud, which lets you store messages with their attachments in iCloud and free up space on your Mac. To enable Messages in iCloud, go to Preferences in Messages, click Accounts, then select ”Enable Messages in iCloud.”Enterprise content: • Variables used in SCEP payloads now expand properly. • Configuration profiles containing a Wi-Fi payload and SCEP payload install as expected when the KeyIsExtractable key of the SCEP payload is set to false.See...

If your Mac seems to be running at high fan rates or you’re seeing reduced battery-life for no apparent reason, you may want to check for some Mac malware that seems to be going around … A couple of support threads have described people finding a process called mshelper using a lot of CPU usage.From the little that’s known about it so far, it seems this is either adware or a cryptocurrency miner. Despite the heading in the Reddit thread, there’s no evidence that it’s a virus, so the most likely explanation for its spread is a sketchy download...

Here’s how to protect yourself from the EFAIL vulnerability in Apple Mail on both iOS and macOS. These temporary fixes come after the new vulnerability was discovered that allows hackers to derive decrypted plaintext from encrypted emails. For the attack to work, the third party must be in possession of your encrypted S/MIME or PGP emails. Although Apple’s likely to offer a fix to this vulnerability sooner rather than later, there are things you can do now to make your email more secure.The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) was the first to discover this vulnerability.Method 1 As previously mentioned, the first method involves removing...

The eighteenth annual CanSecWest security conference is underway in downtown Vancouver, Canada, where researchers are competing in the 11th Pwn2Own computer hacking contest for over $2 million in prizes. Day one results have already been published over at the Zero Day Initiative website, with a couple of successful Mac-related exploits already appearing in the list of achievements. Image via Zero Day Initiative​ Samuel Groß of phoenhex returned to Pwn2Own to successfully hack Apple's desktop Safari browser. Groß used a JIT optimization bug in Safari, a macOS logic bug, and a kernel overwrite to execute code to successfully exploit the browser,...

There's more to your computer's operating system than meets the eye. Ash Edmonds via Unsplash ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Apple prides itself on the polish and slickness of its software, and on the surface, macOS proves itself an intuitive and easy-to-navigate operating system. Dig deeper, however, and you'll find a heap of useful settings and options that let you customize your computing experience. Here are 24 of our favorites. 1. Mute Siri Siri doesn't have to speak her responses aloud—she can silently display them on screen. If you'd prefer this option, click the Apple menu, followed by System Preferences and Siri. Finally, next...

SNIP The singer, who joined Fleetwood Mac in 1975, said she and fellow bandmate, Christine McVie, did not experience much sexual harassment over the course of their meteoric careers. "I think I've been very lucky," she said. "And maybe it's because when I joined Fleetwood Mac, Christine and I made a pact. We said we will never ever be treated like a second class citizen amongst our peers as we get more famous and more famous -- and if we're in a room with famous rock n' roll stars that are men and they treat us that way, we will...

Apple has now released Meltdown patches for its three most recent versions of the macOS operating system. Earlier this month Apple said it was working on mitigations for the Spectre vulnerability, which is said to be harder to exploit Tim CookMark Neuling - CNBC Apple on Tuesday took the next step toward protecting Mac users from recently disclosed security vulnerabilities that have been shown to affect many kinds of devices. The move brings Apple closer to being on par with Microsoft in terms of deploying protections for older versions of its desktop operating systems. On Tuesday Apple said it...

Earlier this year Forbes reported on an especially creepy strain of malware known as FruitFly targeting Apple Macs. At the time, it was unclear just what the spy tool was for, though it appeared to be used for surveilling people's personal Macs, in particular peeping at them through their webcam. Now the U.S. Department of Justice has unveiled an indictment against 28-year-old North Royalton, Ohio, resident Phillip Durachinsky, who is not only accused of spying on Apple Mac owners via Fruitfly but also of producing child pornography. Prosecutors alleged Durachinsky had been installing spyware on people's PCs for more than...

Apple’s iPhones, iPads and Mac computers are all vulnerable to the major processor flaws revealed on Wednesday, the company has warned, but it says updates are already available. The flaws known as Meltdown and Spectre affect almost every modern computing device from all manufacturers using chip designs from Intel, AMD and ARM. Apple uses Intel processors in its Mac computers and ARM-based designs for its A-series processors used in the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Apple Watch lines. Apple said: “All Mac systems and iOS devices are affected, but there are no known exploits impacting customers at this time.” The...

On many occasions, I will be working on a previously-saved Word document. Normally, after I make changes and save, it simply gets saved--that is, I get NO window to name the file, because the file already exists. Sometimes, however, when I save such an open, already-created file, the name of the file suddenly changes to be a work file. At the same time, I get the window and dialog for saving a file and specifying a location. I then have to re-save that file, because if I don't, I lose not only that work file but also the previously-saved file...

Update: Apple has acknowledged the issue and is working on it. Statement and workaround below. Wow, this is a bad one. On Macs running the latest version of High Sierra — 10.13.1 (17B48) — it appears that anyone can log in just by putting “root” in the user name field. This is a huge, huge problem. Apple will fix it probably within hours, but holy moly. Do not leave your Mac unattended until this is resolved. The bug is most easily accessed by going to Preferences and then entering one of the panels that has a lock in the lower...

Update your software and make sure you run full scan. Be damn sure you check the "nexdefinstall.dmg" file and let your virus protection fix it.

Jurisdictions carry no weight in My courts for as Creator I Reign Supreme ! Do you see my children I AM The First and The Last Word as Mediator over All Creation and it is My hand that is the Gavel of Authority and My answer was given on The Cross " IT IS FINISHED " You are Worthy and My blood has dressed you in My Righteousness and My Answer to the enemy for you shall forever be " NOT GUILTY " and surely goodness and mercy shall follow you ALL the days of your life and you SHALL...

Antifa it pretty big when it comes to one sided fights with the PoPo at their back turning a blind eye to their lawlessness. How bout Mutual Armed Combat somewhere out on the plain with both parties Left and Right armed only with any wooden implement of their choice? No guns knives or axes etc. Would they still be all they think they are given the chance for real combat? I still remember gang fights at the quarry when i was young, lotta blood but nobody ever got killed, then again that was long ago and far away... just my...

Has Microsoft finally caught up to Apple? The latest reviews of Microsoft’s new laptops hint that Apple’s cachet (and price points) may be wearing thin among consumers. Verto Analytics conducted a Smart Poll of current Windows owners (among U.S. adults, ages 18 and above) and asked them if they planned to buy an Apple as their next computer (either laptop or desktop) in the next 6-24 months. We also asked current Mac owners about their intentions to switch to a Windows machine within the next 6-24 months. Windows Owners Are More Likely to Make a Switch to Mac According to...

Link only due to copyright issues: Here’s hoping the iMac Pro learns from the Mac Pro’s mistakes (LINK ONLY - ARStechnica) iMac Pro iMac Pro internals

A Russian-backed bit of malware called Snake has been ported to macOS, according to security blog Fox-IT (via Malwarebytes Labs). Snake is a trojan disguised to look like a Flash installer, and it’s been around on Windows since 2008 and Linux since 2014.Snake Trojan on macOS Snake Trojan on macOS While malware, Snake is technically a Trojan, so it relies on tricking the user into installing it with their own password. It’s in the wild in a file named Install Adobe Flash Player.app.zip. The Snake Trojan on macOS installer is signed by a (currently) legit developer certificate issued to a...

We learned recently that macOS malware grew by 744% last year, though most of it fell into the less-worrying category of adware. However, a newly-discovered piece of malware (via Reddit) falls into the ‘seriously nasty’ category – able to spy on all your Internet usage, including use of secure websites.Security researchers at CheckPoint found something they’ve labelled OSX/Dok, which manages to go undetected by Gatekeeper and stops users doing anything on their Mac until they accept a fake OS X update … OSX/Dok does rely on a phishing attack as its initial way in. Victims are sent an email claiming to...

The program’s creator asks for payments but doesn’t have the encryption key to unlock victims’ files A new file-encrypting ransomware program for macOS is being distributed through BitTorrent websites, and users who fall victim to it won’t be able to recover their files, even if they pay. Crypto ransomware programs for macOS are rare. This is the second such threat found in the wild so far, and it’s a poorly designed one. The program was named OSX/Filecoder.E by the malware researchers from antivirus vendor ESET who found it. OSX/Filecoder.E masquerades as a cracking tool for commercial software like Adobe Premiere...