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Heads up! The next major iPhone and iPad updates  (iOS/iPadOS 17) will arrive starting September 18th. MacOS Sonoma (aka MacOS 14) follows, starting September 26th.  What should you do? DO NOT install those big updates for a few weeks, and be sure to turn off automatic updates.      On a Mac: here’s how if you …

Have you been the victim of a scam? Don’t be embarrassed: it’s scarily (and increasingly) common. AI is, of course, making it even easier to fool us all. This remarkable video from Sixty Minutes shows how quickly a tech-savvy millennial got snared. Your best protection is not anything you can buy;  it’s being prepared. A …

Apple announced a SLEW of new stuff this week: some cool, some useful. Before we get to the new stuff: Many of us received a slightly alarming email from Apple about the retirement of Photostream on July 26th. (Photostream was the precursor to iCloud Photos, and most people switched over long ago). You can probably …

Lots of clients are asking if the iPhone “Security Response” is a scam. It’s legit; Apple has started sending urgent, security-related updates separately from everyday updates. Please DO go ahead and install those when you see the notification; you can find it on your iPhone under Settings > General > Software Updates.  More info here. How to Scan on a …

It’s a long and ugly story, but I recently learned that scammers defrauded a client out of a LOT of money. It started with a phone call “from” Amazon about a “fraudulent charge,” and ended with identity theft.  The worst part is that they convinced her that if she told anyone about the “investigation,” she …

First, apologies for the long silence; I was hoping to announce our updated website, but (like most technology projects) it’s *ahem* delayed. So here’s what’s newsworthy. Urgent Stuff Several clients have been ensnared by a “Microsoft” tech support scam using Ultraviewer, a free remote-support tool.  Ultraview is a good and safe app, but the people using …

Um, Yikes On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal published a pretty scary article about the consequences of having both your iPhone and your passcode stolen. (It’s here, but paywalled; if you are not a WSJ subscriber there’s a good summary here). What you need to know: Also, those “your iCloud account has been compromised” text messages are a fake, not …

If you use LastPass to manage your passwords, as I do, I have bad news and good news.  The bad news, as may have heard, is that LastPass suffered a serious security breach in which some customer data was stolen.  LastPass has not, as far as the tech press is concerned, handled this well (see this story in The …

VERY IMPORTANT REMINDER  If you get an urgent email or text or pop-up window instructing you to click a link or call a phone number, NEVER, EVER, EVER,call them; if it appears to be from (for example), Chase bank, LOOK UP THE NUMBER YOURSELF on your bank statement or the back of a credit card and call …

. . . Almost! Everyone hates passwords, and everyone’s passwords are a mess (mine included). They multiply like weeds and are as much fun to manage.  The good news is that their days are numbered; but like all changes, it will take some time and involves a learning curve. Here’s a quick take on their …

Besides the sweltering temperatures. . . . Today’s Apple event introduced a new generation of iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods Pro (a good overview is here). There was the usual round of “best. . .fastest. . .fantastic” cheerleading (yeah, whatever), and a few intriguing new features and devices: The iPhone 14 Pro models did NOT have the price …

In Case You Missed It Apple last week announced urgent updates to fix a security flaw in iPhones and iPads, extending it to Macs as well a day later.   If you haven’t already, please update your Apple devices. Here’s how: How to Update your MacRIGHT NOW How to Update your iPhone or iPad And if your phone …

This one nearly fooled me. (How embarrassing!). And it sailed through Google’s excellent spam filters.  A client emailed: ” I need to get an Ebay gift card for my friend who is diagnosed with Stage 3 metastasized breast cancer, she had lost both parents to the disease COVID-19. It’s her birthday, but I can’t do this …

“overheating is one of the easiest ways to kill tech devices” –9 to 5 Mac We know that heat is bad for your electronics, as are power fluctuations and outages. Here’s your annual reminder not to leave your phone in the sun; if a storm is expected, shut down and/or unplug your electronics; and stay off wired telephones during lightning …

On a recent vacation, I was struck by three things. 1. Traveling with the apps for every airline and hotel and Customs and Border Patrol did not eliminate, but significantly reduced, travel unpleasantness. 2.  Nearly every airport, airplane, train, and hotel room had built-in USB ports for charging. That’s both great and slightly tragic, because after a …