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I’ve been a bit frustrated in my writing, lately. If you’ll remember, back when I started doing this “News & Apps” article writing, I dealt with Apple products as well, and owning an iPad makes me a bit enthusiastic about it.
Well, yesterday a friend approached me with the question, “How come you never write about Apple stuff, Doc? You know, there are quite a few folks with iPhones, iPads and iPods on WC.”
I found myself answering, “Well I did, in the beginning but lack of interest from the audience made me think no one was interested.” In truth, I don’t really know if folks want it or not…
So, I’ll try to divide my articles into Windows and Apple interests, posting independently on both OS’s and products and see how it goes…
iOS 4.3.3 Fix For iPhone Location 'Bugs' On Its Way
Apple will reportedly fix location-tracking software on the iPhone and other devices in an update to its iOS mobile operating system in the next few weeks in releasing iOS version 4.3.3 "within the next two weeks, possibly sooner," BGR.com reported yesterday, citing a company source.
The update for iPhones and iPad tablets will apparently address several location-tracking issues that came to light in April when two researchers publicized the existence of an unencrypted, hidden file on iPhones, iPads and iPods. The cached data is also timestamped, backed up on iTunes and although associated with Apple's Location Services, and is not be shut off by users when they opted out of the service.
"The iOS 4.3.3 update promises to end the backing up of the location database when devices are synched to iTunes, reduce the size of the cached data file and delete the database when users turn off Location Services.” - BGR.com.
Additional tweaks in 4.3.3 that aren't related to location tracking, include a boost to battery life and fixes for bugs in the iPod Touch.
However, the lack of encryption for the location data cache won't be addressed until the "next major iOS software release," the company stated last week.
For Mac Folks: Security Memo Issued Over Rogue App Mac Defender Antivirus Program
Apple users are becoming larger and larger targets for hackers as Apple products become more and more popular for the public. Apple customers for some reason think hackers and scammers only go after Windows users. This is a dangerous assumption, because it’s incorrect.
Case in point: Mac Defender – a phony antiviral program which installs a virus on your system. It informs you that there is a virus present, and offers to uninstall it as well as offering 1 or 2 year protection. It’s not very pervasive yet, but it’s out there and it’s looking for people who wish to protect their systems. The method of counteracting the rogue app is simply to not let it run in the first place -- if you see an installer pop up for an application you haven’t downloaded, always click the No or Cancel button immediately.
If you want a good antiviral: http://www.intego.com/virusbarrier/ offers both on demand and real time protection, and is dual based (for intel based systems).
Sources: 1. PCMag
2. Maclife