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Storage Security?

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          Yes, we're still concerned about storage security.  Jim Hamm writes, "For your possible interest, here is an article about storage security -- or lack thereof -- in the cloud. For reasons mentioned in the article, I don't, and wouldn't, store passwords in the cloud. I wouldn't even use a Password Manager to store passwords in the cloud."
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9241553/No_your_data_isn_t_secure_in_the_cloud?taxonomyId=223&pageNumber=1

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Do NOT Install MacKeeper

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        Here's an important notice from John Carter:  "It was just brought to my attention by Betsy Barnes that MacKeeper is one of the apps that you do not want to install on your Mac.

        "The reasons are various. It has been described as highly invasive malware, but this is probably because it pops up in your face every time you drag an application to the trash (the preferred method is to use AppCleaner to delete an application), and then often after dragging anything to the trash. 
        "Malware is anything that is hostile, intrusive, or annoying. So if being reminded that MacKeeper can clean up your computer is annoying, then MacKeeper is malware. By this logic, Apple's Notification Center can be annoying and therefor it is malware.
        "MacKeeper does this as a way of 'helping' you keep your computer running lean and fast. Does it really? 
        "A simple query in Safari returns dozens of complaints about MacKeeper. For one user who bought a MacBook Pro and then installed MacKeeper, he started having freezes and crashes. A scan of the logs clearly showed MacKeeper as involved in every crash and freeze (See the full report here.)
        "Additionally, one user has attempted to get a refund and is still waiting for it after being told three times he will get it."
        John concludes, "For what it's worth, I am no longer even suggesting that MacKeeper be used on a Mac. Use AppCleaner to remove apps and the rest can be trusted to just dumping it into the Trash.
        For further reading, see this article on "Do not install MacKeeper."
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OS X Mavericks: Hands-On

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        "Here is an article from MacWorld with comments about their hands-on experience with OS X Mavericks, to be released this fall. With various recent articles commenting on password security -- or lack thereof -- in browsers, read the section about a new feature: iCloud Keychain," Jim Hamm informs us.  Scroll down about half way for that password security feature. 

The Future of Storage?

         A storage chip the size of a postage stamp able to pack a terabyte worth of data?  Who’s dreaming?  You’ll want to read about RRAM,  the resistive RAM, and its amazing possibilities. Thanks to Jim Hamm, this article is quite a find! 
        "Here is an interesting article on where memory technology may be leading us. Will be exciting to see how/if/when this technology may become commercially feasible."
http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/resistive-ram-how-it-could-change-storage-forever/?utm_source=Digital+Trends+Newsletter&utm_campaign=dc87702225-RSS_DAILY_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a5ea9c36a5-dc87702225-367338441

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More on Chrome & Passwords

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        Here's more from Jim Hamm on Chrome and Passwords adding to what was posted here below.  "Recently I wrote how Chrome stores passwords entered via the browser in plain text, even without asking if you want them stored or not. As a follow-up, here is an article that explains how this was known some years ago and yet Chrome has become a very popular browser.  

        "Unfortunately, I didn't realize this and have entered passwords in Chrome and, yes, they're stored there in plain text. Google has clearly stated they have no intention of changing this policy, or even alerting users that Chrome does this." 
        So, Jim, what to do?   "Of course, you could discontinue using Chrome. However, I like Chrome and plan to occasionally keep using it, but will no longer use it when I need to log in to a secure website with a password. I'll use another browser. 
        "Also, I will go into Chrome and delete all the passwords stored there. Do this by entering  chrome://settings/passwords in the browser."   
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Be Informed About Chrome Browser

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        Here's important info from Jim Hamm,  "If you should use Chrome as a browser -- as I do occasionally -- and have guests at your house and they should want to use your computer a bit, you might take a look at this article. Chrome apparently saves your passwords whether you wanted them saved or not. You may not want your guests having access to your passwords saved in Chrome.

      "Out of curiosity, I took a look at which passwords were saved in Chrome on my computer -- a lot, but none of serious consequence. Just to see if Chrome asks me if I want to save a password or not, I tried logging into a couple of sites using a password. Chrome didn't ask me if I wanted to save the password or not -- presumably Chrome just saved it.
      "This is not good if, say, you're on Chrome and logging into your bank account. Keep this in mind if you use Chrome as your browser. Other browsers will ask you if you want a password saved." And here Jim signs off with his customary grin. 
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Before You Sell or Give Away Your Mac

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        Jim Hamm provides this very important information.  Before you sell or give away your Mac there are definite steps to take to protect your information that's now on the computer.  The article here http://macdailynews.com/2013/08/05/apple-explains-what-to-do-before-selling-or-giving-away-your-mac/ also tells how to return your Mac to its original "out-of-the-box" state.  Read this from Apple dated 8-5-13:  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5189 

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What's Hogging the Bandwidth?

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        "On a Mac forum I participate in a fellow posted a problem he was having, all of a sudden, with excess bandwidth usage," is how Jim Hamm begins.  He explains, "He normally uses about 40GB per month, but in the last 3 days he has downloaded 120GB! So far he has not been able to identify the culprit, but the following information has been provided to him for further analysis.

        "If you should ever have a concern with or want to know more about bandwidth usage, here is an article explaining how you can open the nettop command program in Terminal to see which processes are generating the most network traffic."  
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Calendar Tip

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        "I just solved a problem with a Mac user who was having problems with her Calendar on the iPad," John Carter informs us.  " Every calendar entry suddenly disappeared, but it was all there on her laptop. Every trick I knew was tried to no avail. Ultimately, there was only one trick left. The solution was to delete the iCloud account on the iPad and then recreate it. This deleted all iCloud related information on the iPad when the account was deleted, but it came back again once she signed back on to iCloud on the iPad. I am sure the same applies to laptops and desktops.

        And John signs off with this reassurance, "Unlike dangerous stunts, you can try this on your own."

Welcome to Co-chair PR, Sharon Lampert

        Sharon Lampert will be co-chair for Public Relations for PMUG.  She will serve with Howard Rieder.  
        Let's get acquainted with Sharon.   
        Sharon has been married 39 years and is step-mom to three, one daughter together, and now five grandchildren spread around the country.

        Sharon has worked in Healthcare as RN in the hospital setting, is certified as Lamaze Childbirth Educator, taught classes, attended and assisting in the labor & delivery process (home and hospital births). Returning to school at 50 she completed Women's Health Nurse Practitioner's Program.   In Phoenix she worked in a multi -cultural Women's Clinic.  Besides being certified as a menopause educator, she developed and implemented a holistic program in an OB/GYN Clinic.
     While raising their daughter, she was extensively involved in event planning & fund raising in the school & community. She also founded, developed and implemented the College Career Center at Chaparral High School.
        Sharon enjoys time with her family, knitting, hiking, yoga, reading, photography and women's groups. 
       What about the future?  She retired her medical license in 2012, and hopes to develop a business, doing pregnant belly & newborn photography.
        Thanks to Sharon for volunteering for PMUG.  

Welcome to Co-Chair PR, Howard Rieder

         Howard Rieder will be co-chair for Public Relations for PMUG.  He will serve with Sharon Lampert.  

        Let's get acquainted with Howard.  For fifteen years prior to retirement in 1996, he was Advertising Programs Manager for Nissan Motor Corp.  Prior to that he was Director of Advertising and Public Relations for Revell Toys and Thomas Organ Company.    
        Howard and his wife Kathie moved to Prescott from Los Angeles 17 years ago.  They have three daughters and seven grandchildren.  He holds a B.A. and M.A. Degrees from the University of Southern California.  His Master's Thesis led to inclusion of chapters in two books:  Cinema Examined, and The American Animated Cartoon,  published by E. P. Dutton. And he contributed to a new book, When Magoo Flew.
         Howard's hobbies are audio recording, computers, video editing, reading, and traveling.
        Thanks for volunteering, Howard!