OSX Yosemite

[Jorge-Vieira]

OS X 10.10.5 Yosemite Now Available For Download, Here’s What Is New

OS X 10.10.5 Yosemite download update is now available for Mac users around the globe. The update brings with itself a bunch of fixes and performance enhancements.

OS X 10.10.5 has been in beta for quite a while and was rumored to be released very soon, and today marks the day when Apple finally opened its floodgates to the public so they can go ahead and download the latest Yosemite update. Without further ado, let’s dive right in and see what this update brings to the end user.
The changelog for the OS X 10.10.5 release is rather brief, and highlights three main things. They are as follows:

– Improves compatibility with certain email servers when using Mail
– Fixes an issue in Photos that prevents importing videos from GoPro cameras
– Fixes an issue in QuickTime Player that prevented playback of Windows Media files.

Apart from the above mentioned details, the OS X 10.10.5 update also fixes a very critical flaw that can allow malware to gain root access to the Mac, so we strongly urge all of our readers, and Mac users in general, to update straight away to this release without giving it a second thought.




If you want to download the update right away on your Mac, then simply launch the Mac App Store, click on the ‘Updates’ tab on the top, and then click on the ‘Update’ button right next to the available software update for your Mac.
The update is almost a gigabyte in size and can take a while to download depending on your Internet connection’s speed. Once you’re done installing the update, you will be required to restart your Mac, so be sure to save your files beforehand, so you don’t end up losing anything in the process.

It’s very likely that OS X 10.10.5 is the last update Yosemite will ever receive before we move onto the next chapter – OS X El Capitan. Set to release this fall, El Capitan is packed with a bunch of awesome power-user related features that aims to supercharge the overall experience of OS X. Currently available as a beta download for registered developers and the average public alike, Apple’s next-gen desktop OS is shaping up to be one fine release, thanks to the oh-so important feedback which Apple has been getting from developers and regular beta testers.
While we wait for El Capitan, users should update their Macs straight away to OS X 10.10.5 Yosemite.

Noticia:
http://wccftech.com/download-os-x-10...#ixzz3inDPd3bT

[Jorge-Vieira]

Teenager Discovers Two Zero-Day OS X Exploits To Gain Remote Access To A Mac

Apple has found itself in hot waters lately in terms of security, with iOS and OS X both coming under fire from different security experts, claiming that Cupertino’s walled security garden is not as tight as the company claims it to be. And now, a new report has surfaced, which is only adding more thorns to Apple’s stiff security claims.

According to a report published by PCWorld, an 18-year-old was able to discover two new zero-day vulnerabilities in OS X, that can allow an ill-intentioned individual to gain remote access to a Mac, subsequently giving access to sensitive data to hackers. The exploit, details of which are available on GitHub, “uses two bugs to cause a memory corruption in OS X’s kernel.”
Interestingly enough, the exploit has been patched in OS X 10.11 El Capitan, which is currently in beta and is due for release later this year. But, sadly enough, the exploit is present in OS X 10.9.5 all the way up to the current public release of OS X 10.10.5 Yosemite, which was released just last week to end users. The OS X 10.10.5 update patched a very critical security bug on its own that allowed ill-intentioned individuals to gain root access to a Mac, but the new zero-day exploits remain unpatched.
According to PCWorld:

The memory corruption condition can then be used to circumvent kernel address space layout randomization (kASLR), a defensive technique designed to thwart exploit code from running. The attacker then gains a root shell.

Apple is currently aware of this exploit, and the knowledge of the discovery has been conveyed to the Cupertino giant. Therefore, it’s highly likely that Apple will push out a point update for its desktop operating system to patch things up. Apple itself, however, hasn’t commented on the matter yet.




An unofficial patch, called NULLGuard, is available to download directly from GitHub. But, the creator of the patch also notes that he does not have a Mac developer certificate, hence distributing it in an easy way is not currently possible.
Like we mentioned before, Apple will definitely patch this exploit in no time, like it usually does. But given how things stand, we don’t have an ETA for the patch’s arrival just yet.
Apple has always taken pride in the fact that OS X is not susceptible to malware or viruses found on a Windows PC. But as we move forward, security researchers are digging deep inside OS X and we’re seeing more and more security vulnerabilities surface on a bi-weekly basis.
Let’s just hope Apple patches the latest exploit as soon as possible.
Source

Noticia:
http://wccftech.com/teenager-zero-da...#ixzz3j4rYHBvY

[Jorge-Vieira]

Record iPhone And iPad Screen Using OS X – How To

Here’s how you can record your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch display using OS X. For this whole process to work, you don’t need to jailbreak your device at all, and you do not need to install any third-party software.

Given how things stand currently, you can record an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch’s display if you’re jailbroken and have the right tweak installed. But quite frankly, going through the process of jailbreaking is not a walk in the park for everyone, and users love it when such great features are offered at a stock level, and guess what? Screen recording actually is available at a stock level, provided you have a Mac with you, of course.
Recording your iOS device’s screen is fairly easy, and we’ll walk you through the process in detail.
Record iPhone, iPad Display Using OS X

Prerequisites

• A USB cable to connect your iOS device with your Mac
• A Mac running OS X Yosemite

If you fulfill the above mentioned prerequisites then you’re good to go.
1. Connect your iOS device to your Mac using a USB cable.
2. Launch the QuickTime Player app on your Mac.
3. In the Mac menu bar, click on ‘File’ and then select ‘New Movie Recording.’





4. QuickTime will now activate your Mac’s front facing camera and is now ready to record. But we don’t want to record the camera, we want to record our iPhone or iPad’s display, so click on the little downward facing arrow next to the ‘record’ button and select your iPhone or iPad as the camera source.

5. Your iOS device’s display will pop up straight on your Mac, ready to be recorded. Simply click on the ‘record’ button to do so. Clicking the same button again will stop the recording.
6. Click on ‘File’ in the Mac menu bar again, and then ‘Save’ if you wish to save your recording to view at a later date.

The process is actually quite simple to follow, given that you don’t need to jailbreak your iOS device, and no third-party software is involved in the whole deal.
We really wish Apple had implemented screen recording in such a way that a Mac was not at all needed in the equation. But we have our hopes high that Apple would deliver on that as well in a future update of iOS. Till then, you have the above steps to fulfill your screen recording needs.
Found this guide useful? Then drop us a comment below!

Noticia:
http://wccftech.com/record-iphone-ip...#ixzz3jBGNGgdS

[Jorge-Vieira]

Commander One Is An Extremely Powerful OS X Finder Replacement

The Finder in OS X gets the job done in a variety of ways. But, in a lot of situations, a power user would want extra control in their hands, an area where Finder fails to deliver in abundance. Enter – Commander One, a brilliant OS X Finder replacement that has a lot of hot features right off the bat that will leave even the novice of users in a state of awe.

Commander One is a brilliant multi-pane file manager with a ton of great features. For example, you have the option to view your files in different modes – Full, Brief and Thumbs. Taking things further, the app also allows you to view hidden files easily. And here’s something which many users will love: you can open an unlimited number of tabs, giving you more control over how you do things on your Mac.
Commander One – Free dual pane file manager for Mac

Commander One features an advanced search option, that allows you to search for files on drives that are compressed very easily. And if for some reason you don’t remember the name of the file you were looking for, Commander One has the ability to search for words inside of a file as well, flexibly throwing you a result even if you’re short on memory. Of course, there’s Spotlight search available as well, if you so wish to take that route.

On top of the features that we have listed above, Commander One even has zip support to view compressed files, and even comes with a built-in file viewer. Furthermore, users can easily define hot keys, and also allowing users root access to files, so you can rest assured that all your needs will be covered.




The full set of features of Commander One is as follows. And yes, there are two versions of the app – free and PRO.

You can grab the free version of Commander Pro by heading over to this link. If you wish to go PRO for some reason, then you’ll be pleased to learn that there’s a 15-day free trial as well before you part with $29.95.

If you’ve always had beef with OS X’s Finder, then Commander One is a great alternative which we recommend users to try out. After all, it’s free, and if you want to add more features on top, the asking price is pretty decent too for the PRO release. But given how much the app already offers to users in its free state, we doubt you’ll ever go PRO.
Thoughts? Drop them in the comments section below.

Noticia:
http://wccftech.com/commander-one-os...#ixzz3jHfSpJhR

[Jorge-Vieira]

How To Access Old OS X Window Zoom Feature In Yosemite

Want to get the old OS X window zoom feature back in Yosemite? Here’s how you can.

With the release of OS X Yosemite last year, Apple made a ton of changes how its desktop operating system works. There are a lot of changes littered across the board that make up for a very big upgrade. And in those changes, Apple took the liberty to alter what the ‘green’ button does on the top left hand corner of an active app window. Previously, when you used to click that button, the app would zoom in, taking up the entire display space, but in Yosemite, clicking the very same button takes you to full-screen mode. Not an ideal solution, given that users now have to drag around corners to zoom into an app. But we’ll show you how you can get the old-style OS X zoom feature back, like how it was in Mavericks and previous versions of Apple’s desktop OS for the Mac.
Access Old OS X Window Zoom Feature In Yosemite

1. Launch any app, such as iTunes, or even Safari.
2. You should see three colored buttons on the top left hand corner – red, yellow and green.
3. Hold down ‘Option’ key on your Mac’s keyboard, and float your mouse over the green button. You will notice how the button changes to a ‘+’ sign.




4. Click on the green button while holding down the ‘Option’ key.
And just like that, the app window will zoom in on the display without going into full-screen mode.
We really don’t mind having the full-screen button in the place where the zoom button was. In fact, it makes accessing full-screen mode a lot easier compared to earlier versions of OS X. But, not every single time you’d want to go full-screen for one reason or the other, and that’s where the zoom feature comes in handy a lot more. And now you know how to access it. It’s just a simple case of holding down the ‘Option’ key while clicking the ‘green’ button. Simple and effective.
We wish Apple had tossed in the option to let users assign what the green button does, because as we mentioned before, the full-screen option is not everyone’s cup of tea, and giving users a bit more control can go a long way in further boosting overall productivity on a desktop level.
Found this tip useful? Then don’t forget to let us know about it in the comments section below. We love to hear back from our readers!

Noticia:
http://wccftech.com/access-old-os-x-...#ixzz3jqKESSPl

[Jorge-Vieira]

Reveal All Hidden Screen Resolution Options In Mac OS X – How To

Here’s how you can view all the hidden and supported display resolutions in Mac OS X.

OS X is forged in such a way that it only shows the native screen resolution for a connected display by default. Also, OS X will be set to run on that native screen resolution as well without any sort of user intervention. If you want to take things to the next level, and want to reveal all the hidden resolutions which OS X supports, then simply follow the outlined steps below.
Reveal All Hidden Screen Resolution Options In Mac OS X

1. Open System Preferences. You can do this by clicking on the ‘Apple’ logo in the menu bar at the top, and then clicking on ‘System Preferences.’
2. In the list of available options, click on ‘Displays.’

3. Next to ‘Resolution,’ you should see two options – ‘Default for display’ and ‘Scaled.’ Click on ‘Scaled.’
4. You can now access all hidden supported resolution options for your connected display.



At this point, you must be asking yourself: why would I want to set a lower display resolution? Well, there are a lot of reasons for it actually. For starters, if you have an older Mac, or maybe a more than an underpowered Mac mini, then you’d want your computer to drive as less pixels as possible on the display to keep things ticking over as nicely as possible.
If you’re planning to use your Mac for gaming, and you happen to have older hardware, then setting a lower resolution is the way to go as well. Besides, there’s no harm in having such an option at your disposal now is it?
If you’re looking forward to boosting your Mac’s performance without busting your bank for a RAM upgrade or an SSD, then the above mentioned option can be your instant port of call to make things stutter free again. In fact, we would highly recommend users with older Macs to give this option a shot, and see for themselves how much it has helped them regain those precious performance bits.
If you have a Retina display Mac, then the above mentioned option would look slightly different to you. Instead, you can only change the pixel density to make your workspace bigger in an already tight space, should you wish to take that route.
Found this tip useful? Then as usual, don’t forget to let us know about it in the comments section below. And stay tuned for more tips and tricks just like these for the Mac in the days to come.

Noticia:
http://wccftech.com/reveal-all-hidde...#ixzz3kItHHb7N

[Jorge-Vieira]

Clear Cache In Safari On Mac OS X – How To

Here’s how you can clear cache on Safari in Mac OS X. Once done, you will be able to fix a lot of browser related errors and resolve page loading issues.

As you keep on using your Web browser on your PC or Mac, cache files start to pile up in the background, which aim to improve the overall experience of surfing the Internet. While that may sound like an awesome thing, but too much cache piling up in the background can cause a bit of a problem. Case in point, we’ll show you how to empty the cache in Safari in a few easy steps.
Clear Cache In Safari On Mac OS X

1. Launch Safari on your Mac.
2. Now click on the ‘Safari’ button in the Mac menu bar.
3. Click on ‘Preferences.’

4. A new window will open up. Click on the ‘Advanced’ tab at the top right hand corner.




5. At the bottom of the list of available options, there’s an entry labelled ‘Show Develop menu in menu bar.’ Click on that.

6. In the menu bar you’ll see a new entry labelled ‘Develop.’ Click on it and then click on ‘Empty Caches.’

The process might seem a little too long, but once you have the Develop menu in place, then clearing the cache is a simple case of clicking on ‘Develop’ then ‘Empty caches.’ Nice and simple, the way it should be.
Clearing your browser’s cache from time to time is a good practice. For instance, if you have an older Mac, or maybe a MacBook with a small SSD then it can come in handy freeing up a lot of space in an instant. Furthermore, clearing the cache can resolve a lot of browser related issues and page loading problems.
While Safari might not be the best browser in everyone’s books, especially when you bring Chrome into the equation, but Apple’s offering ties in nicely with the overall OS and works seamlessly across devices, provided you have an iPhone or iPad at home. In terms of performance, Safari isn’t a screaming demon either, especially in cases where you might be in an ownership of an older Mac, but still, it’s a lightweight offering, and is wonderful in terms of battery life, therefore we’d recommend to use it on a MacBook if you’re always out and about.
Found this tip extremely useful? Then be sure to let us know about it in the comments section below.

Noticia:
http://wccftech.com/clear-cache-safa...#ixzz3kTIEoTsB

[Jorge-Vieira]

How To Erase, Change Format Of USB / External Hard Drive In Mac OS X

Here’s how you can erase and change format of an external hard drive or USB stick on Mac OS X.

Completely erasing a disk drive / formatting it is a rather easy task to pull off on OS X, but for a lot of users, it can be a rather daunting routine to follow. But don’t fret, we’re here to help and we will thoroughly guide you through the process, making sure you get everything right in the first go.
Erase, Change Format Of USB / External Hard Drive In Mac OS X

1. First of all, you need to launch the ‘Disk Utility’ app on your Mac. In order to do this, simply bring up Spotlight search using the Command + Spacebar key combination and type in ‘Disk Utility.’
2. With your USB or hard drive connected to your Mac, you’ll see your disk on the left hand side of Disk Utility.
3. Click on the disk you wish to erase / format, and then click on the ‘Erase’ tab on the top right hand side.
4. Click on the ‘Format’ drop-down menu and select the format you wish to go for. If you’re planning to use the drive with your Mac only, then choose ‘Mac OS Extended (Journaled).’ If you plan to use your drive with both Windows and a Mac as well, then opt for ‘MS DOS (FAT).’





5. Set the ‘Name’ of the device, if you so wish.
6. Now click on the ‘Erase’ button on the bottom right. Confirm your action by clicking on the ‘Erase’ button once again, as shown in the screenshot below.

Note: if you’re planning on selling or giving away your hard drive then you would want to click on the ‘Security Options’ button first and set the level of security in order to prevent disk recovery by someone else, keeping your data as secure as possible in return.

And that’s it, you’re done. After a few seconds, or minutes, depending on the size of your disk or the level of security you’ve selected, your drive will be wiped clean and ready to be used again in a brand new fashion.
If you just switched to a Mac from any other operating system, then knowing how to erase / format your device should be at your fingertips. And if you were able to follow the above steps in one go, then you’ve already become a Disk Utility master!
Found this tip useful? Then don’t forget to let us know about it in the comments section below.

Noticia:
http://wccftech.com/erase-change-for...#ixzz3kwaNJ4SU

[Jorge-Vieira]

How To Batch Convert Images On Mac OS X Using Preview

Here’s how you can batch convert images in another format using Preview app in Mac OS X the easy way.

If there are a ton of photos you wish to convert to another format, there are a lot of ways you can pull that feat off. For instance, you can make use of a good app from the Mac App Store to get along with the process. But unluckily for the most us, many good batch image conversion apps out there are paid-for, which means you’ll be stumping out a couple of dollars to convert a batch of images in another format. But did you know that you can batch convert images in another format using OS X’s stock Preview app? Today we’ll show you how to use it, and trust us, it gets the job done in a very effective manner.
Batch Convert Images On Mac OS X Using Preview

1. Select all the images you want to batch convert to another format.

2. With all the images selected, right-click and hover the mouse pointer over ‘Open With’ and then click on ‘Preview.’ This will open all the images in the Preview app, with the left hand side representing the thumbnails of the images that have been opened.

3. Select all the images in the left hand side by clicking on one image and then pressing the Command + A key combination on your keyboard.





4. Now click on ‘File’ in the menu bar and then click on ‘Export Selected Images.’

5. Here you can select the format to which you want to convert your images along with the quality and destination where you wish to save them. Once you’ve made your choices, click on the ‘Choose’ button at the bottom right to confirm your action.

That’s it, you’re done. Easy wasn’t it?
We’re certain long time OS X users must be aware of the above mentioned feature of Preview, but for those who don’t, you now know how to batch convert images right on your Mac without having to take the assistance of a third-party app.
Preview is actually a powerful tool if you dive deep into it. And while most of us take the app for granted, there’s a lot it can achieve if you give it a slight chance.
Found today’s featured tip useful? Then you’ll be pleased to learn that more are on their way. Don’t forget to drop your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below as well.

Noticia:
http://wccftech.com/batch-convert-im...#ixzz3lRnUq998

[Jorge-Vieira]

Speed Up Mac OS X Boot Time By Removing Unwanted Login Items

Here’s how you can speed up Mac OS X boot time by removing unwanted login items in a few simple steps.

Just like Windows, Mac OS X can also slow down a bit as you keep on using it for a vast period of time. Naturally, in order to fix this issue, we have to revert to a few maintenance related steps, subsequently regaining some of that lost boot-up speed. In today’s guide, we’ll show you how you can remove unwanted login items and give your Mac a significant boost in speed while booting up.
How To Remove Unwanted Login Items In Mac OS X

1. Launch System Preferences by clicking on the Apple logo icon in the Menu bar, then click on ‘System Preferences.’
2. Now click on ‘Users & Groups.’

3. Click on ‘Login Items.’




4. You’ll now see a list of items that launch automatically when you boot into OS X. Simply select the entry you wish to disable, then click on the ‘-‘ button to confirm your action.

We suggest removing all the unnecessary login items since they can take a wondrous hit on the overall boot-up time of your Mac. But make sure that you do not go overboard when you’re removing items, as some of them might be needed for the proper functioning of your Mac.
We highly recommend that you go through these steps especially if you happen to install a ton of apps on a regular basis. If the slowness still persists and you happen to have an old Mac computer at hand, then you can give it a speed boost by disabling transparency effects.
A Mac slowing down over time is nothing which you should be alarmed about. After all, like a PC, a Mac has no magical hardware, and over time it can slow down significantly. When that does happen, we recommend that you keep up to current times by giving your RAM a boost by bumping up the numbers, or you can replace your hard drive with a SSD.
We highly recommend that you go for a SSD, as it can give you a great boost in speed as well as help you boost your battery life marginally, provided that you have a MacBook at hand. Also keep in mind that newer MacBooks and iMacs cannot be upgraded by users themselves and you have to make your hardware choices at the point of sale, so be sure to grab the most top-notch hardware you can afford so that you future proof yourself as much as you can.

Noticia:
http://wccftech.com/speed-up-mac-os-...#ixzz3rwe8H5Vi

[Jorge-Vieira]

How To Enable Stealth Mode Firewall In Mac OS X

Here’s a complete step-by-step guide on how you can enable Stealth Mode firewall in Mac OS X.

When you connect your devices to an open wireless network in public, there are chances that an ill-intentioned individual might be working in the background to snoop data out of your connected gadgets. While it’s not the case everywhere you might go, but a little protection such as enabling a firewall can go a long way in protecting a lot of personal data stored on your device. But at times, even a simple firewall might not be enough to protect you from an outside attack. If you happen to be in the ownership of a Mac, then you can take things up a notch by enabling Stealth Mode in firewall settings, ensuring that you’re well and truly covert when you’re out and about.
While Stealth Mode is great and all, but do keep in mind that it will make you completely undiscoverable over a network, which means that your Mac won’t respond to any sort of ping whatsoever. Sounds great doesn’t it? It sure does, but there’s one problem – we wouldn’t recommend turning on Stealth Mode while you’re on your home network as problems may arise between devices that need to communicate with one another. But if you’re out in the public domain, then we prefer you leave the feature turned on, and we’ll show you how you can do just that.
Enable Stealth Mode Firewall In Mac OS X

1. Launch System Preferences on your Mac.
2. Now click on ‘Security & Privacy.’

3. At the top you should see four tabs. Click on the one that says ‘Firewall.’




4. With your firewall enabled on your Mac, click on the ‘Firewall Options’ button.

5. At the bottom you should see an option labelled ‘Enable stealth mode.’ Click on it to enable. Then click on the ‘Ok’ button to confirm your changes.

Like we mentioned before, we highly recommend that you keep this feature turned on especially if you’re sitting in a public place connected to an open WiFi network.
It’s great to see that such a feature is built right into OS X and can go a long distance in protecting a user’s privacy. But do keep one thing in mind – use the feature wisely and do not forget to turn it off when you’re connected to your home network.
Found the above tip useful? Then be sure to let us know about it in the comments section below.

Noticia:
http://wccftech.com/how-to-enable-st...#ixzz3sKJwgjzy

[Jorge-Vieira]

Apple’s Safari browser seems to be having issues on iOS and OS X

It looks like iOS and Mac OS X users are facing issues with the Safari browser today as the software seems to be repeatedly crashing for a lot of users when trying to make a search through the address bar.
On the iOS side, this seems to be affecting users after the recent 9.2 update, this will also be affecting some OS X users that installed the most recent update, according to user complaints on Reddit.

The issue appears to be related to Safari’s ‘suggestions’ feature and some have managed to get the crashing to stop by switching this feature off. Alternatively, the private browsing mode should also work as a temporary workaround before Apple issues its own patch.
So far, Apple hasn’t commented on these issues so for now, it seems that Safari users will need to stick to the temporary workarounds.

Noticia:
http://www.kitguru.net/apple/matthew...-ios-and-os-x/

[Jorge-Vieira]

Apple Resurrects Dead Mac Ethernet Ports Following Botched OS X Security Update

Apple had good intentions when it rolled out a security update for Mac OS X, but unfortunately for some iMac, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini users the update also caused their Ethernet ports to stop working. Oops! The good news is Apple was quick to issue another update that should restore full functionality.

If you find that Ethernet connectivity is no longer working on your Mac, Apple says to check System Information to find out which version of "Incompatible Kernel Extension Configuration Data" is installed, which you can access in System Information under Software. If you have version 3.28.1, you need to update your Mac.

image: http://hothardware.com/ContentImages...ntent/iMac.jpg

Here's where things can get tricky. If you're able to use Wi-Fi, your Mac should update to version 3.28.2 automatically. To force the issue, open the Terminal app and type sudo softwareupdate --background and then quit Terminal and restart your Mac. While it's restarting, grab a bottle of your favorite beverage and toast a job well done.

If you can't connect to a wireless network, the steps required to update are a little more involved. First, you'll need to restart your Mac in OS X Recovery, select Disk Utility, and then select your drive from the list of internal drives in the sidebar (default name is "Macintosh HD"). If the drive is gray, select File > Unlock from the Disk Utility menu and enter your FileVault password. Then select File > Mount in Disk Utility (if it's not already mounted).

From there, quit Disk Utility and launch the Terminal app from Utilities > Terminal. Then in one line, type the following command (change Macintosh HD to whatever your drive name is, if it's different):

rm -rf “/Volumes/Macintosh HD/System/Library/Extensions/AppleKextExcludeList.kext”

Quitthe Terminal app and restart your Mac. Your Ethernet connection should work at this point, however you're not finished—Apple still suggests updating to 3.28.2. To do that, open the Terminal app again and type sudo softwareupdate --background then quit and restart your Mac one more time.

Noticia:
http://hothardware.com/news/apple-resurrects-dead-mac-ethernet-ports#qgBIhuBTaSmhJ46h.99









Mac Malware Implies HackingTeam Has Returned

HackingTeam has been quiet recently, following the hack against them last July that revealed embarrassing amounts of their private data, emails, and code. Now researchers have discovered a piece of newly developed malware affecting the Mac OSX operating system that has led to a belief that the group has returned.
A sample of the malware was uploaded to Google’s VirusTotal scanning service on the 4th of February which at the time wasn’t detected by any major anti-virus products (now according to Ars Technica, it is detected by 10 out of 56 AV services.) SentinelOne researcher Pedro Vilaça demonstrated on Monday some functions of the malware which was shown to last be updated around October or November with an embedded encryption key dated October 16th. The malware works by installing a copy of HackingTeam’s Remote Code Systems compromise platform, with these two pieces of evidence implying that the malware is built upon old and unexceptional code from the team, instead of the entirely new code that the group promised they would return with following their compromise.

“HackingTeam is still alive and kicking but they are still the same crap morons as the e-mail leaks have shown us,” Vilaça wrote. “If you are new to OS X malware reverse engineering, it’s a nice sample to practice with. I got my main questions answered so for me there’s nothing else interesting about this. After the leak I totally forgot about these guys :-).”

Another examination of the sample by Patrick Wardle, a Mac security expert at Synack, found that while the malware appears to be built upon the old HackingTeam code it has several tricks up its sleeve for evading detection. This includes using Apple’s native encryption scheme to protect its binary file, which is the first of its kind seen by Wardle.
Exactly how the malware gets installed is yet to be discovered, with top possibilities are users being deceived into installing it thinking it is benign software, or that it is bundled with another piece of malware that executes its installer. While this malware isn’t enough proof alone to show that HackingTeam is active again, Vilaça found through the Shodan search engine and a scan of the IP address in VirusTotal’s sample show that the control server has been active as recently as January, which means this malware, regardless of its origin, should be treated as more than a hoax.

Noticia:
http://www.eteknix.com/mac-malware-i...team-returned/

[Jorge-Vieira]

View More Sound Options In OS X Menu Bar – Mac Tip

Here’s how you can view more sound options in the Mac menu bar on OS X quickly and easily.

OS X is a powerful platform when compared to the likes of Windows et al. While there are some things in Apple’s desktop platform that leave us with our heads scratching, but overall, it’s a great place to get things done.
Speaking of head scratching, there are certain decisions Apple took in the background which in turn led to certain features being hidden away from view, and one of those is the ability to view extra sound options in the Mac menu bar, allowing users to quickly switch between a sound source or an input device. In today’s guide we’ll show you how to go about that business in a few simple steps, so hop right in!
OS X Has Extra Sound Options Which You Can View In The Mac Menu Bar, Here’s How To Access It

1. Locate the sound icon in the Mac menu bar. It looks like a little speaker facing towards the right.
2. Hold down the ‘Option’ key on your Mac’s keyboard and then click on the speaker icon.

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3. You’ll now notice that instead of the volume control, OS X is now displaying ‘Output Device’ and ‘Input Device’ options, listing down the sources which you can utilize for audio.

If you have a lot of AirPlay enabled devices at home, then this little tip is extremely handy to know about. Secondly, if you’ve set up a home studio and happen to have a lot of input sources, then again, this tip will go a long way in helping you out in a lot of ways.
Also keep in mind that this tip won’t be handy at all if you don’t have AirPlay enabled devices at home, and use your Mac as a barebones device for audio without any external sources other than the internal set of speakers and microphone.
Apart from the speaker options, you also get a quick shortcut to view ‘Sound Preferences’ from the new menu, which is extremely handy if you love to tweak the sound of your Mac from time to time.
We really wish this feature wasn’t hidden away from view and Apple had advertised it more openly so that people would reach it without much fuss. Still, now you know it’s there, and we’re sure you’ll find creative ways to use it in the future.

Noticia:
http://wccftech.com/view-more-sound-...#ixzz41fQA88lL

[Jorge-Vieira]

Speak Selected Text On Mac OS X – How To

Here’s how you can make your Mac speak selected text in OS X with a simple keyboard shortcut or a click on the mouse.

While we make use of our Macs in a wide variety of ways on a day to day basis, there are still some features deep inside OS X that we barely make use of, which will subsequently make our lives even more easier. One of those features is the ability to make your Mac speak out the selected text with the press of a key combination on the keyboard, or just using a simple click on our mouse. Today, we’ll guide you through the entire process and hopefully you’ll leave this space learning something awesome.
Make Your Mac Speak Out The String Of Text You Have Selected

1. Launch System Preferences from Launchpad or the Mac menu bar.
2. Click on ‘Dictation & Speech.’
3. Over here you’ll see a bunch of new options. But at the top there are two tabs – click on the one that reads ‘Text to Speech.’
4. Check the option that is labelled ‘Speak selected text when the key is pressed.’ You may click on ‘Change Key’ to modify the shortcut for speaking out selected text. But we recommend that you keep it at the default setting so that you now how the feature works beforehand, and then tweak it to your liking later.
You also have the option to change the voice to male or female, depending on the way you want it. But again, keep it at the default one for now.
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5. Now open a Web page or any text file and select the text you want your Mac to read out. Press the ‘Option + Escape’ key combination on the keyboard to read out the text.
Alternatively, you can achieve the same without using your mouse in certain places. Select a string of text in Safari, for instance, right-click on it, then select Speech > Start Speaking. The select text will immediately be read out to you. Plain and simple.

The text to speech feature is extremely handy especially if you want your Mac to read out a long document to you, saving you a bunch of time if you’re planning to go through the trouble of doing things manually. Furthermore, it’s a brilliant feature for those who are visually impaired as well.
If you found today’s guide useful, then be sure to let us know about it in the comments section below.

Noticia:
http://wccftech.com/speak-selected-text-on-mac-os-x/#ixzz41s54QGfl








How To Convert Videos To GIF Images On Mac

Want to convert videos to GIF images on your Mac? Here’s how you can do just that using a simple to operate app for OS X.

While GIF images have existed for a long, long time, but they really exploded in popularity on the Internet a while back when people started to incorporate them in ingenious ways. From social media posts to email, it’s easy to understand why GIF images have become so popular – they’re expressive and get the point across in an animated fashion, literally.
Converting Videos To GIF Images On A Mac Is Super Easy Using This App

GIF images are easy to come by on the Internet, and there are ton of websites that have put them up for download. But, wouldn’t it be great if you could create your very own GIF images using a simple to use app on the Mac? Today’s your lucky day, as we’re featuring GIF Brewery 3 for OS X, that does exactly what you’re thinking right now – convert videos to GIF images in a slick fashion.
From the Mac App Store:
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GIF Brewery 3 is a video to GIF creator on Mac OS X. GIF Brewery 3 lets you convert clips from your video files to GIFs. Let GIF Brewery do all the hard work for you!
Features:
* Convert clips from your videos into GIFs.
* Can record your screen, web cam, or iOS 8+ devices and opens them ready to be converted to a GIF.
* Resize and crop the video for your GIF.
* Add multiple captions or overlay images to the GIF.
* Create GIFs with your desired FPS or manually set the frame count and frame delay.
* Apply image filters like Color Correction or famous photo filters like Transfer and Noir.
* Save settings for later edits.
* Supports Mac OS X 10.11+.

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GIF Brewery 3 screams simplicity and you can get up to speed with the app within minutes, rather than hours. The interface is absolutely clean and easy to understand, and once you open a video in GIF Brewery 3, you can select the portion of it which you want to convert to a GIF, and then export it using a simple click of a button.
The simplicity of the app is not the awesome part about it by any means. For a limited time only, to celebrate the launch of GIF Brewery 3, the developers are giving away the app for a wonder price of FREE. So rather than wasting time on something else, we recommend that you click on this link right here and download the app right away and start creating some amazing GIFs to share!

Noticia:
http://wccftech.com/how-to-convert-v...#ixzz41s5u9w5Z