OS X

OS X Mavericks bug allows security researcher to capture nearly all SSL encrypted traffic

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

The nasty SSL bug was found in iOS last week that opens the door to a dangerous man-in-the-middle attack which makes it easy for attackers to intercept communications and steal sensitive info like usernames, passwords and even credit card numbers, by posing as a trusted website.

Apple quickly squashed the dangerous bug with the release of iOS 7.0.6. If you're jailbroken, you can patch the SSL exploit without updating to iOS 7.0.6 (here's how).

Unfortunately, Apple hasn't yet issued an urgent OS X fix for the exploit, meaning Mac users are left out in the cold and at risk of having their personal information and passwords hijacked.

One security researcher from New Zealand has now confirmed that the vulnerability is more dangerous than previously thought: virtually all encrypted traffic to be intercepted, including iCloud data, Keychain enrollment, certificate from apps like Twitter and more...

OS X 10.9.2 Mavericks update looms: FaceTime Audio, Messages blocking, Mail fixes and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 24, 2014

After releasing seven beta builds of the upcoming OS X 10.9.2 update to its registered Mac developers, Apple appears to be putting finishing touches on this highly anticipated second Mavericks update. A pre-release build of OS X Mavericks version 10.9.2 is now in circulation among a small group of Apple employees, indicating that a public release is around the corner. The OS X 10.9.2 update will (hopefully) fix Mail bugs while enabling greater feature parity between iOS 7 and Mavericks.

The latter entails enabling FaceTime Audio calling on the Mac and giving users the ability to block individual senders through the Messages app. Both of these features are supported in Apple's mobile operating system.

The software will also fix dozens of bugs and bring useful tweaks and under-the-hood improvements, all listed below the fold...

Timing of SSL bug fuels conspiracy theories about Apple and the NSA

Cody Lee ∙ February 24, 2014

By now you've probably already heard about the SSL bug that was discovered in iOS and OS X. Apple pushed an iOS update out on Friday to fix it, and it didn't sound like a big deal at the time, but we have since learned that it is an extremely serious security flaw.

The flaw leaves Apple devices open to what's called a man-in-the-middle attack, in where a malicious program poses as a trusted website to intercept communications or inject malware. And its existence has fueled conspiracy theories about Apple and the NSA...

Apple seeds OS X 10.9.2 build 13C62 to developers

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 20, 2018

Apple has seeded the seventh OS X 10.9.2 beta to registered Mac developers this afternoon. The last few betas have each come about a week apart, but this one comes less than a week after beta 6.

The new build is available to all registered Mac developers through the Software Update tab in the Mac App Store, or as a full download via the Mac section of Apple’s online developer portal…

The Gloss bookmarklet helps you highlight and save text on the web

Lory Gil ∙ Updated May 9, 2017

Sometimes the simple things are what make our lives a little better. Sure there are some very useful productivity tools for saving and sharing websites (Evernote being my preferred option). But sometimes, you just need something a little simpler.

Gloss is a Safari bookmarklet for OS X that lets you highlight and save one sentence at a time from any website. It may sound too simple, but read on to find out why it might be the right fit for you…

Apple seeds fifth OS X 10.9.2 beta to developers

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 20, 2018

Apple has seeded the fifth OS X 10.9.2 beta to registered Mac developers this evening. The last few beta releases have each come about a week apart, suggesting that they're nearing a final version.

The new build is available to registered Mac developers through the Software Update tab in the Mac App Store, or as a full download via the Mac section of Apple’s online developer portal…

Steve Jobs said to have approached Sony about using OS X in VAIOs

Cody Lee ∙ February 5, 2014

As serious as Apple has always been about making all of its own hardware and software, it's hard to believe that OS X almost wound up on Sony VAIO PCs. But it's true, according to Japanese freelance writer Nobuyuki Hayashi.

It's even harder to believe that the effort was spearheaded by Steve Jobs himself, but it was. In a recent blog post, Hayashi recounts a time when Jobs and other Apple executives met with Sony and pitched them the OS X VAIO...

Apple offers bandaid solution to ‘no new mail’ bug in Mail on OS X Mavericks

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

Apple has offered up an interesting remedy to a persisting bug plaguing the OS X 10.9 Mavericks Mail application which manifests itself by preventing the app from receiving any new messages until it is quit and reopened. Apple's workaround solution is a primitive one, albeit effective.

As Mail needs to reestablish a connection to the troublesome mail server (which typically means Gmail), Apple advises quitting and reopening Mail.

As a result, this forces Mail to re-establish a connection. An alternative solution entails a manual process that reinitializes an affected mailbox without having to restart the program...

UnlockID is a jailbreak tweak that can unlock your Mac with Touch ID

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 17, 2023

UnlockID is a super-cool new jailbreak tweak that does exactly what the headline says—it allows you to unlock your Mac using the Touch ID sensor found on the iPhone 5s. Using Bluetooth Low Energy, the tweak features a Mac component that allows your iPhone 5s to communicate with your OS X installation.

Although the tweak's practicality may be up for debate, there's no debating the fact that this is one of the most innovate and coolest looking Touch ID tweaks we've seen thus far. We've taken UnlockID for a thorough walkthrough. Check out our hands-on video after the break.

Apple seeds fourth OS X 10.9.2 beta to developers

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 19, 2018

Apple has seeded the fourth OS X 10.9.2 beta to registered Mac developers this evening. The release comes just one week after the third beta, suggesting Apple is honing in on a final version.

The new build is available to registered Mac developers through the Software Update tab in the Mac App Store, or as a full download via the Mac section of Apple’s online developer portal…

How to add an OS X inspired battery indicator to the iPhone’s status bar

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

MacBattery is a brand new jailbreak theme that allows you to add an OS X inspired battery indicator to the status bar in iOS 7. The theme uses the Alkaline jailbreak tweak in order to modify the battery indicator without having to rely on WinterBoard. We already reviewed Alkaline in an earlier post last week.

If you're looking to switch up the look of your iOS 7 device's status bar, then Alkaline coupled with MacBattery is a good place to start. Have a glance at our full video walkthrough inside.

New features added to Keynote, Pages and Numbers for iOS/OS X, iMovie gets bug fixes

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 23, 2014

Apple is on a roll today in terms of software updates. The company has just seeded the third OS X 10.9.2 beta to its registered Mac developers and revamped Pages, Keynote and Numbers on the web (excuse me, iCloud) with a slew of new capabilities, including - finally! - password protection for your iWork documents. Earlier in the day, Apple has managed to post a minor Podcasts app refresh and a bug fix focused update to iMovie for Mac.

And now, new versions of Pages and Numbers for iOS and OS X have arrived plus an enhanced version of Apple's presentation software Keynote with new transitions, improved presenter display options, better Microsoft PowerPoint and iCloud compatibility and more.

These software updates allow for a nice feature parity across Apple's iWork suite of apps on the web, iOS and OS X platforms...