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Zagg Bluetooth Keyboard

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        "If there's any 'iPaders' in our azapple group, the following comments are for you," says Jim Hamm.  He continues, " I've owned an iPad for a long time, but had never used a separate keyboard with it previously. Then my wife got a Zagg bluetooth keyboard for her iPad, and really liked it. So, not to be left behind, I bought one from Amazon for my iPad. What a difference this keyboard makes. Really nice.

        "If you've already moved to a  bluetooth keyboard for your iPad, read no further. For the rest of you, I recommend you try one." 
        Jim explains, "I didn't realize how much easier, and nicer, it is to type on a keyboard instead of tapping on the screen with my finger. And the best thing I like about it is no more -- to correct a mistake -- a finger on the screen, with the bubble, trying to move the cursor around. Now I just use the up/down/back/forward arrows on the keyboard to move the cursor and correct a misspelling. I like this.
        "We're presently on an RV caravan tour and I haven't even used my MacBook Air once since we left. I find it so convenient and handy just to use my iPad with the Zagg keyboard. Plus, since I've got a cellular data package for my iPad, I don't have to worry if we don't have wifi in the campground. Like right now -- no wifi but a good LTE signal.
        "There are other brands of keyboards available for the iPad, but the Zagg is the only one I've tried. There were over a thousand reviews on Amazon for the Zagg keyboard for my particular iPad, with most of them favorable."
        And Jim concludes, "I'm not pushing Zagg -- only the use of a bluetooth keyboard for your iPad.  Just a thought for your consideration."
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Remotely Infected With Firmware Malware? What!

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        Of course, we're keeping up with the latest.  So, take a look at this!          Jim Hamm writes, "While it's not encouraging to read the following article, it just shows that any electronic device can be hacked. The article points out one scenario I hadn't thought of: if one were to buy a Mac, say, from eBay or someone you don't know, it could be loaded with malware.
        "Now this isn't something I'm going to lose sleep over, just something to be aware of and use discretion when clicking a picture or link you're not sure of." And here's that link.

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The Epidemic Has Begun

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        After you've viewed Jim Hamm's alert (just below) go to this other article at How To Geek (Mac OS X isn’t safe anymore. The crapware/malware epidemic has begun).        See illustrated examples of screens that are “like the Old Faithful of bundled crapware.” Examples show Yahoo, CNET downloads, OpenOffice, fake Java messages, MacKeeper, etc. It discusses the plist file, and says to restrict Apps that aren’t from the App store.

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How to Remove Malware & Adware From Your Mac

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        From the How-To Geek website Jim Hamm finds some helpful info on viruses, worms, and Trojans, along with adware, crapware, and spyware programs.  The writer outlines the problems and the possibilities.  He also warns, “Don’t have the Java plug-in enabled, either . . . “ This article was published 7-25-15.

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Helpful for Mac and PCs

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Your PC friends will find this useful, too, according to Jim Hamm.  He begins with, "Here is a good article on antivirus programs. I've used the free version of Avast for years, both on PCs and Macs, and it's worked well for me." (Full article here.)        Jim adds,  "All the info in the article would apply to the Mac as well. Here is the link to a free download for the Mac."  

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Car Hacking

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        "Here is an article about yet another hacking attack,"  yes, Jim Hamm gets our attention!  He continues, "This time on a car! Now this isn't something you or I need to be worried about at this time, but it does make one wonder. What if your car was hacked, engine turned off, and held for ransom? Admittedly, not a likely scenario, but possible.
        "One item the article mentioned, which I hadn't thought much about, is your car may communicate with your dealer and monitor when your next oil change or service is due. Both our cars do this, and we'll get an alert on our car's dash when an oil change is due. So our cars are periodically checking back with 'home base'. This is very similar to what most of the programs do on your computer -- they all want to check 'home' and see is an update is available."
        And Jim is closing with this thought, "Driverless cars, hacking cars, electric cars -- it's an interesting time we live in."
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Apple Music "Nightmare"

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     The article begins, "I love Apple. I love them because they take difficult problems and come up with innovative, simple solutions. The things they make just work and we trust them. Unfortunately, my experience with Apple Music has been exactly the opposite. As of today, I’m missing about 4,700 songs from my library with little hope of getting them back."       This link comes from Jim Hamm who goes on to add, "Here's another sad tale about Apple Music -- one of several I've read. My music transferred over mostly OK, except that the album art didn't always make it over correctly. One big lesson here -- always back up everything first before trying something new."         The article is followed with 102 comments as of 7-22.

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Might Want to Delete Old iCloud Backups

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       "If you'd want to delete old iCloud backups to free up more storage space on your iPhone or iPad, take a read on this article," Jim Hamm informs us.  
        "Looking at my iPhone 6 I saw that 462 MB of data was stored there from my old iPhone 5. I didn't really need that backup anymore, so I could have freed up this storage space if I'd needed/wanted to. 
        Jim Hamm goes on to say, "Also, as you scroll down the list of apps you have on your device you can stop any of them from being included in future iCloud updates, should you want to. Since I have plenty of storage space available I let them all continue to be included in future updates. But this is good to remember if, in the future, I start running tight on iCloud storage space."
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Still Got Flash?

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        "By now hopefully you're removed Adobe Flash from your browser, or, if you need to run Flash, you're using the Chrome Browser," begins Jim Hamm.   "However, if you've still got Flash installed, here is an article on how to use plugins to help control Flash from playing."
        And you'll want to read this.  Jim goes on to add, "Now even the Federal Government is getting involved. You probably don't need/want to read the alert, but here it is -- from the 'United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team.'  Impressive, huh?"
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It's Time to Uninstall Adobe's Flash From Your Mac

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 This is serious. Jim Hamm alerts us, "As Steve Jobs so eloquently put it: Adobe Flash is a 'bag of hurt.'  Recently there's been many advisories about vulnerabilities in Adobe Flash.  The same comment has been true for many years.  Flash is vulnerable to hacking.  Time to get rid of it.  This article shows how." 

 Jim concludes with "If you must use Flash -- for example, if you listen to Pandora --  then use the Chrome Browser."
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Get Acquainted

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The newly-elected officers for 2015-1016 would like to get acquainted with YOU.  Click on About Us in the menu above and then click on each entry there to find photo and bio of these friendly people:

        President: Sondra Bradshaw
        Vice President:  Art Gorski
        Secretary and Membership Chair:  Bobbie Pastor
        Treasurer: David Passell
        PMUG Ambassador: Ward Stanke
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A New Hacking Tool

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       The Yahoo Tech News of July 8 gives some details on a new hacking system with the headline "No One is Safe: $300 Gadget Steals Encryption Keys Out of the Air, and It's Nearly Unstoppable."

         At the end of the report it states, "The team plans to present its creation at the Worship on Cryptographic Hardware and Embedded Systems this coming September." An on-line  search shows several such workshops scheduled in California and  France. 
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Who's Listening

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        In a letter dated July 10, 2015 the Electronic Privacy Information Center, EPIC.org goes into some interesting details about “Always On” consumer devices. Maybe you have one or more of these devices. 
        Mentioned and described are Google’s Chromium browser, Mattel’s “Hello Barbie,” Samsung’s “Smart TV,”  Microsoft’s Kinect in Xbox consoles,  Amazon’s voice-activated computer program “Alexa,” Google Nest Cam,  and Canary Connect. 
        EPIC ‘s letter was sent to Attorney General Loretta Lynch of the US Dept. of Justice and Chairwoman Edith Ramirez of the FTC, and requests workshop and investigation of these devices.  Here's the letter:  https://epic.org/privacy/internet/ftc/EPIC-Letter-FTC-AG-Always-On.pdf