Monthly Mini-Bytes - June 2025

 

I Was Hacked! Well, not really, but it was the most convincing piece of phishing that I had ever run it to. Usually, I just review the contents of my Junk folder to update myself on the latest techniques all the scumbags use to try to separate me from my data, credentials, and ultimately my money. Lo and behold I received an email to myself from myself. And what was more interesting is that it came from my iCloud account. Apple forces us all to lock down our iCloud accounts tighter than Fort Knox, so this was interesting. The email went on with the usual threats if I didn't pay $1783.29 in bitcoin to some obscure wallet. I of course checked my sent folder and there was no copy of this email, so it was unlikely sent from my account. Then I looked over the message headers and found that the originating email was from a Russian domain. Yes, it was just spoofing, but it was a decent attempt, and if I weren't adept at this garbage, then I probably would have freaked out. But the good news is that it's easy to spot these sorts of things. Here is how to do it. Is it in Junk? In the case of the email mentioned above, my Junk folder caught it, so it was appropriately categorized. This should be clue number one if you get one of these... and you will. Check Your Sent Messages If the supposed message looks to be from you, check your sent messages. If you don't see it in there, then that is a good sign. If you do, then your email account is compromised and you need to change your password and take the other necessary steps to secure it. View Message Headers When an email moves through the internet it is stamped with all types of information. You can view this info in Apple Mail on the Mac by choosing the message, then go up to the View drop-down and select Message -> All Headers. It may look like the stuff from Algebra 3, but here you can see where the message originated from, if it was tagged as suspicious, and all types of detail about how it made its way to your inbox. The bottom line is if you get one of these spoofing emails, do not panic and start by following the steps above. Most of the time it is simple phishing, but if the bad guys did get into your email, at least you followed the process to confirm that fact and locked it down.

Be Wary of Bogus Results with Amazon Searches

No one can argue that Amazon has revolutionized home delivery. And despite repeatedly crashing in to our neighborhood's entry gate, their drivers can deliver anything from printers, to inks, to adapters, and other accessories in sometimes just a few hours. But be very careful of the search field. It could leave you with cheap products that could damage your printer, computer, or iPhone. Even if you type in an Amazon search field the exact item or part number, oftentimes you will get a different part, or a knock-off that probably doesn't even work. If you click Buy Now without doing a bit of research you may be just wasting your money and your time. So what to do? Go to the manufacturer's website first and find what you need. If you would like to see if Amazon could offer a better price or faster shipping make sure the search result matches what you see on the manufacturer's website. It's the best insurance to avoid bogus copies or something that may hurt your devices.

Issues with iCloud Private Relay

Apple's iCloud Private Relay is a great VPN-like option that you can use to boost your privacy when going online. But lately we have noticed some laggy speeds when using the service. It pushes data through a server at Apple, and if it gets overloaded or just tired cuz it's been busy, then things could get a little pokey. The good news is that it's easy to toggle on or off for 24 hours or permanently if you would like. On the Mac go to System Settings -> [Your Name] -> iCloud -> Private Relay. On your iPad or iPhone got to Settings -> [Your Name] -> iCloud -> Private Relay.

The Micro-Byte - June 2025

 

WWDC 2025: Should You Wait to Upgrade?

The 2025 Apple World Wide Developers Conference has come and gone. Every year there is a lot of anticipation about new products, enhancements, and upcoming hardware changes that have many of us waiting until the Fall to purchase new Macs or devices. Last year the headline was Apple Intelligence that has yet to be fully released, and in this year's conference they just hung a new "Coming Soon" sign on it, promising more to come later this year. Well, we have heard that before. So, what did they announce? There were a whole host of minor enhancements, tweaks, and the rename of all of their operating systems, but for the most part there was no ground-breaking app or that one new thing that would make us wait until the Fall to purchase a new device.  I don't think the lack of a big announcement is a bad thing for Apple. They need to finish Apple Intelligence and have it work as promised. In fact, with AI being the biggest thing across all tech in 2025 it should be their main focus. So, taking a year to just tweak and tinker with the base operating systems is probably a good move so they can concentrate on the big stuff and not get left behind. Bottom line: If you were waiting to get a new iPhone, iPad, or Mac in anticipation of a big reveal in the Fall, it looks like that isn't going to happen. According to what was presented at WWDC the full line of Apple products should meet the needs of most every user. If you want a brief rundown on what was announced from Liquid Glass to macOS Tahoe 26, MacRumors has an article by item breakdown: https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/09/everything-apple-announced-wwdc-2025/