Are you one of the millions of Mac users under the impression that your digital security is guaranteed simply due to the fact that you're using a Mac? Then I've got some news for you that you may not want to hear: the popular and long-standing myth that Mac users are immune to security vulnerabilities is just that -- a myth. This myth largely derives from the fact that the global Windows market share dwarfs that of macOS. Hackers and cybercriminals would much rather target an operating system that serves nearly 90 percent of users worldwide than one that accounts for less than 10 percent.
Best free antivirus for Mac: Avast Free Mac Securityavast.com Many antivirus suites provide a decent level of protection, but a few rise above all others by providing the very best in performance. If you need technical support for a security issue—for example, to reset your Apple ID password or to review a recent App Store charge—view the Get help with security issues article. If you believe you have discovered a security or privacy vulnerability in an Apple product, learn how to file a report. The updates for iOS 14.2, iPadOS 14.2, and watchOS 7.1 also close these vulnerabilities; tvOS 14.2 has security fixes but apparently isn't vulnerable to these particular bugs. Needless to say, whatever operating system version you're using, if there's an update to address these vulnerabilities, we encourage you to install it sooner rather. We design Mac hardware and software with advanced technologies that work together to run apps more securely, protect your data, and help keep you safe on the web. And with macOS Big Sur available as a free upgrade, it's easy to get the most secure version of macOS for your Mac. Before it was fixed, the vulnerability meant anyone could approach your iMac, MacBook, or Mac Pro and access your computer without anything more than a couple keystrokes and zero technical know-how.
The truth is that Macs are still very much susceptible to vulnerabilities that can be exploited by cybercriminals, or even by developers of apps you may use on a daily basis. So if you're a Mac user who has been lulled into a false sense of security, it's time for you to wake up and realize that your security is by no means guaranteed on a Mac. That's the hard reality of it, and the sooner you come to grips with it, the sooner you can start taking steps to protect your digital security and personal privacy on your Mac.
Even after knowing that your Mac isn't immune to vulnerabilities, you may still think that only hackers and cybercriminals would be a threat to the security of your Mac. Unfortunately, that isn't the case. Bugs lurking undetected within some of the applications you may use on a daily basis could easily leave you exposed to a potential malicious attacker. What's even more frightening, app developers themselves may be reluctant to squash those bugs even after they have been detected and reported to the company developing the application.
Case in point is the recent revelation that the popular video conferencing app, Zoom, contained a vulnerability that allowed for a third-party actor to remotely enable Mac users' microphones and cameras without their permission simply by having the victim click on a Zoom meeting link. In March, a cybersecurity researcher responsibly disclosed to the company a number of serious vulnerabilities contained within the Zoom application. The most egregious of which was the aforementioned camera vulnerability that was made possible by a local web server that was automatically installed with the Zoom application on Mac computers. The local web server was installed in the background as a way for Zoom to create a seamless video conferencing experience for its Mac users. Essentially, it made it possible for the software to bypass a security feature in the Safari web browser that required user confirmation prior to launching the app on a Mac, thus saving the user a mouse click or two by automatically launching the app without having to click the confirmation dialogue.
It turns out that this vulnerability could easily be exploited by a malicious actor and used as a way to remotely hijack unsuspecting Mac users' cameras and microphones, leaving them fully exposed to a flagrant invasion of privacy. Shockingly, according to the security researcher's blog post, Zoom persistently attempted to downplay the seriousness of the vulnerability during ongoing conversations with the researcher over a 90-day period and was resistant to properly addressing the issue. Even after public disclosure of the vulnerability, Zoom initially continued to downplay the gravity of the issue and declined to take the researcher's recommended action to remove the local webserver completely. Only after public backlash following the researcher's disclosure did Zoom cave and agree to remove the webserver from an updated version of the app.
Ultimately, Zoom's misguided notion that user experience trumps user security led the company to develop an application that allowed for potentially severe user privacy infringements. It is certainly alarming and indeed eye-opening for a company -- especially of Zoom's stature -- to deliberately build into its software a way to bypass a browser security feature intended to protect Mac users' privacy, even if it was in the interest of enhancing the user experience.
It can certainly be disheartening, but the Zoom case proves that your security may be at risk on your Mac even when using seemingly innocuous third-party applications. In these cases, it pays to take a close look at the app developer's privacy policy and gain a full understanding of how the software works and what the company does specifically to protect your privacy when using its application. Pro tip: if the privacy policy is difficult to find or vague in its wording, then it's probably best to look elsewhere.
If worrying about developers building security vulnerabilities into their applications isn't enough, it's important to understand that hackers and cybercriminals can absolutely target you even if you're on your trusty Mac computer. The good news, though, is that there are concrete steps you can take to mitigate those cyber threats and minimize your chances of having your security compromised when using your Mac. You may think that antivirus software is only meant for Windows systems. However, since Macs can also be vulnerable to viruses and malware, cybersecurity experts have been increasingly recommending that Mac users install antivirus software as well.
Another necessary privacy tool to use on your Mac would be a virtual private network (VPN). By using a VPN on your Mac, you can secure your privacy by fully encrypting all of your internet traffic, essentially hiding everything you do online from hackers, cybercriminals, and even your internet service provider. A VPN is a simple and extremely effective way to stay secure and protect your privacy when using your Mac.
Although even Macs can be vulnerable to various cyber threats, there are certain steps you can take to ensure your privacy and security are properly maintained. It is fundamentally important to be aware of what security threats exist, and what you can do to counter them and keep yourself, and your Mac, safe and secure.
Photo credit:Angela Waye / Shutterstock
Attila Tomaschek is a digital privacy expert at ProPrivacy.com and a staunch advocate for a free and open internet. Catalina unsupported mac. Attila is constantly investigating and analyzing matters of digital privacy and is always eager to share his knowledge with readers. Follow Attila on Twitter and LinkedIn.
A fortnight in to 2020 and we have the first security flaw considered important enough to be given its own name: Cable Haunt – complete with eye-catching logo. Hp smart app download mac.
First discovered by Danish company Lyrebirds some time ago, Cable Haunt is an unusual flaw which in Europe alone is said to affect up to 200 million cable modems based on the Broadcom platform.
Specifically, the flaw is in a normally hidden software layer called the spectrum analyser (SA) used by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to troubleshoot a subscriber's connection quality.
According to Lyrebirds, this analyser has several problems starting with the basic problem that the WebSocket interface used to control the tool from a web browser is unsecured.
Because parameters sent via this are not restricted by the modem, it accepts JavaScript running in the browser – which gives attackers a way in as long as they can reach the browser (although not in Firefox, apparently).
Can you get minecraft on mac for free. Using HTTPS instead of an exposed WebSockets would have dodged that bullet by implementing Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) security.
What might an attacker do?
- Change default DNS server
- Conduct remote man-in-the-middle attacks
- Hot-swap code or even the entire firmware
- Upload, flash, and upgrade firmware silently
- Disable ISP firmware upgrade
- Change every config file and settings
- Get and Set SNMP OID values
- Change all associated MAC Addresses
- Change serial numbers
- Be exploited in botnet.
Identified as CVE-2019-19494 (a second CVE, CVE-2019-19495, relates to the vulnerability on the Technicolor TC7230 modem), it's clear from that list that this is a flaw users should not ignore.
Haunted
The researchers offer what looks like a valid reason for giving the issue a name – the desire to grab attention to a flaw they hint that some modem makers and ISPs have been ignoring since the company reported it to them in early 2019. The risk:
At this rate it would eventually leak out of our hands and into organizations with time and resources to take advantage of the vulnerability.
Mobile Os Vulnerabilities
Lyrebirds thinks it knows why things have been moving so slowly too:
We are a small unknown crew with no reputation and could therefore not establish connection with any manufacturers directly, even though we tried.
What to do
The vulnerability affects cable modems using Broadcom's reference software as part of their firmware, so the first thing is to work out whether your broadband connection is served using that technology combination (ones advertised as being fibre or ADSL are not affected).
Beyond that, because modem makers integrate the firmware for Broadcom modems to suit their own needs, the degree to which specific models using the software are affected is hard to predict.
Mac Vulnerability
The researchers list several models and firmware versions known to be at risk from Sagemcom, Technicolor, Netgear, and Compal, but they caution that this isn't exhaustive.
Apple Ios Vulnerabilities
Photo credit:Angela Waye / Shutterstock
Attila Tomaschek is a digital privacy expert at ProPrivacy.com and a staunch advocate for a free and open internet. Catalina unsupported mac. Attila is constantly investigating and analyzing matters of digital privacy and is always eager to share his knowledge with readers. Follow Attila on Twitter and LinkedIn.
A fortnight in to 2020 and we have the first security flaw considered important enough to be given its own name: Cable Haunt – complete with eye-catching logo. Hp smart app download mac.
First discovered by Danish company Lyrebirds some time ago, Cable Haunt is an unusual flaw which in Europe alone is said to affect up to 200 million cable modems based on the Broadcom platform.
Specifically, the flaw is in a normally hidden software layer called the spectrum analyser (SA) used by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to troubleshoot a subscriber's connection quality.
According to Lyrebirds, this analyser has several problems starting with the basic problem that the WebSocket interface used to control the tool from a web browser is unsecured.
Because parameters sent via this are not restricted by the modem, it accepts JavaScript running in the browser – which gives attackers a way in as long as they can reach the browser (although not in Firefox, apparently).
Can you get minecraft on mac for free. Using HTTPS instead of an exposed WebSockets would have dodged that bullet by implementing Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) security.
What might an attacker do?
- Change default DNS server
- Conduct remote man-in-the-middle attacks
- Hot-swap code or even the entire firmware
- Upload, flash, and upgrade firmware silently
- Disable ISP firmware upgrade
- Change every config file and settings
- Get and Set SNMP OID values
- Change all associated MAC Addresses
- Change serial numbers
- Be exploited in botnet.
Identified as CVE-2019-19494 (a second CVE, CVE-2019-19495, relates to the vulnerability on the Technicolor TC7230 modem), it's clear from that list that this is a flaw users should not ignore.
Haunted
The researchers offer what looks like a valid reason for giving the issue a name – the desire to grab attention to a flaw they hint that some modem makers and ISPs have been ignoring since the company reported it to them in early 2019. The risk:
At this rate it would eventually leak out of our hands and into organizations with time and resources to take advantage of the vulnerability.
Mobile Os Vulnerabilities
Lyrebirds thinks it knows why things have been moving so slowly too:
We are a small unknown crew with no reputation and could therefore not establish connection with any manufacturers directly, even though we tried.
What to do
The vulnerability affects cable modems using Broadcom's reference software as part of their firmware, so the first thing is to work out whether your broadband connection is served using that technology combination (ones advertised as being fibre or ADSL are not affected).
Beyond that, because modem makers integrate the firmware for Broadcom modems to suit their own needs, the degree to which specific models using the software are affected is hard to predict.
Mac Vulnerability
The researchers list several models and firmware versions known to be at risk from Sagemcom, Technicolor, Netgear, and Compal, but they caution that this isn't exhaustive.
Apple Ios Vulnerabilities
The researchers have also made available a test script that more technical users can use to work out whether a modem is vulnerable. It's a not a guarantee, however – even if it comes up negative, a modem might still be vulnerable, they caution.
The first piece of good news is that because cable modems are remotely managed, ISPs will apply a fix automatically when it becomes available.
The second piece of good news is that there's no evidence attackers have exploited the flaw – yet.
When your ISP gets around to applying the fix will be up to them. Some might have quietly done so already but expect others to take longer. If the researchers couldn't get modem makers and ISPs to talk to them, customers may not get much further.
