Java – Should I disable it ?

It’s come up before = and I still get questions about disabling Java – so post time.

Back in january the LA Times wrote

The Cupertino, Calif., company has remotely disabled the vulnerable software. Users whose Macs run the Mountain Lion, Lion, Snow Leopard or Leopard operating systems are safe.

Also Rick Ortiz wrote:

If you use Safari, Apple already did it for you. If you use any other browser follow the instructions. Though Oracle supposedly fixed this, there seems to be concern about the patch not being complete.

The Instructions

Bottom line – if you are reading this then I suspect that your Mac OS is at least at Leopard (according to the analytics) – but if in any doubt – as Rick says – follow the instructions

Adobe Workshop – Unique Opportunity

It is rare we post these kind of non Mac events into our blog – and to our members – but this one is too good not to. Brought to you by Maui Brainstormers (a group you should think about signing up for anyway), this is a FREE workshop for Business Owners, Managers, Web Professionals and Marketing Consultants!

You will learn the latest about obtaining online business success with:

• CMS hosted platforms (including WYSIWYG)
• Easy steps to create and update your own website
• Web Pages for all business types
• eCommerce and Customer Databases
• Blogs and Forums
• eMail Marketing and eNews Letters
• Multi-Aspect Business Reporting
• Hosting and Email

Venue : The Fairmont Kea Lani who are also sponsors for Maui Brainstormer’s ‘Website on the Spot!’

Date : The workshop is set to run on August 30, 2012.

Parking – FREE attendance to the seminar includes complimentary self-parking for all workshop attendees.

Guest presenter is Adam Broadway of Adobe Systems. Adobe is donating Adam’s time and expertise to Maui Business Brainstormers specifically for this event.

Seats are limited. If the RSVP places are maxed, you may choose to RSVP for the waiting list.

Click through to learn more and sign up. But don’t be slow – it’s already at 60% capacity.

Apple – Malware – The Truth and The Fix

You might have picked up some news this morning about malware and viruses and trojans INVADING the quiet tranquility of your Apple computer.

Personal opinion ? Like som much of news – massive exaggeration – and of course – because it is Apple – the bandwagon is in full flight about how the world is about to come to an end …..

It isn’t.

Really – It isn’t.

This article aside (I like Dave Winer a lot – and his point is valid), WITHOUT some calm and sense prevailing – the gap will be filled with rumor, myth and wrong information.

First – some data – I have no idea how many Apple computers there are in the world  – but only 600,000 of them have been affected.

There are however estimates of 900 million to 1 billion computers in the world today. So, even if Apple had a 10% of ALL of them (they don’t by a long shot) – that means there are around 100 million Apple computers

Which means that around 0.6 percent of ALL Apples are estimated to have the virus.

OK – so what is the virus ?

Here’s what are friends at F-Secure have to say :

Summary
Trojan-Downloader:OSX/Flashback.I connects to a remote site to download its payload; on successful infection, the malware modifies targeted webpages displayed in the web browser.

Think about that – IF you are one of the substantially less than .6% of Apple computer owners that have been affected – it will mean that the malware will modify certain webpages displayed in the web browser – when you visit them. It doesn’t corrupt your data, destroy your files, spam your address book. It is malware.

OK – but you still want to get rid of it right ?

If you are feeling brave go here – now.

If you are not feeling so brave – and not so technically minded – then still go here (it is the same page) – and note the first three instructions :

Manual Removal Instructions

1. Run the following command in Terminal:defaults read /Applications/Safari.app/Contents/Info LSEnvironment
2. Take note of the value, DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES
3. Proceed to step 8if you got the following error message:”The domain/default pair of (/Applications/Safari.app/Contents/Info, LSEnvironment) does not exist”

For the vast majority of you – statistically 99.4 % of you – when you get that message “The domain/default pair of (/Applications/Safari.app/Contents/Info, LSEnvironment) does not exist” – then know you are safe.

If you don’t get that message – then the instructions 4 onwards – tells you what to do – and that can either be YOU or one of your friendly neighborhood techies :0

Please email me if I can help you further. I am traveling at the moment – but always online 🙂

1Password for IPhone Best App of 2011

The Unofficial Apple Weblog reported their Best of 2011, and Agile Bits Solutions’ 1Password took the prize for Best iPhone App. Easily beating out the competition by taking 49.7% of the votes, 1Password is an invaluable utility for anyone who surfs the web on their Mac or iOS device.

I have been using 1Password on my MAC for over a year and find it to be so efficient, easy, and secure that I can’t imagine being without it.

For information about 1Password, click here