Tag Archives: iPhone

Posted on Author Atlantic Computer Services Categories Blog

Simple Tips For Securing Smart Device Data

Data security isn’t something that’s at the forefront of most people’s minds, but it probably should be.  These days, we use far more than just our trusty laptops and desktops to do real, meaningful work.  Most people have a plethora of devices they tap into on a regular basis and take with them wherever they go.

From smart phones to smart watches and more, the average person has no less than four different devices they can and often do use to get stuff done.

How safe are they?  Probably not as safe and secure as you’d like.

Here are some simple ways to fix that:

1 – Software Solutions

There are a number of these, but BitDefender is a solid choice.  The great thing about BitDefender is that you can hook up to fifteen different devices to it per household, and it comes with a suite of tools designed to help keep your smart devices safe.

2 – Develop Good Password Habits

Yes, it can be easy to use the same password across multiple devices and multiple web properties you use on a regular basis.

Resist the lure of easy.  Unfortunately, easy makes you a target.  Even though it’s more trouble, take the time to develop good and robust passwords. Use a different password on every device.

Here, password vaults can be your best friend because it helps automate the process and gives you less to remember.  It’s also worth employing two-factor authentication (2FA) everywhere it’s offered. Again, it adds an extra step to your logon process, but it’s time well spent for the added security it provides.

3 – Learn to Be a Savvy Email User

Don’t click on any links embedded in any email you receive, even if you think you know the sender.  The sender’s address could be spoofed.

Similarly, don’t open an email attachment unless you’ve verified that it’s legitimate and that someone you trust has sent it to you.  Phishing emails are among the most common way that hackers gain access to systems they target.  Don’t be their next victim!

These three things do take a bit of time to set up and get working but it’s time well spent, and it will make all the smart devices you rely on significantly more secure.  That’s a very good thing.

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Posted on Author Atlantic Computer Services Categories Blog

The Surprising Ways Mobile Technology Impacts Our Lives

If you grew up in the days before the internet, it’s absolutely staggering to think of all the ways that mobile technology has changed our lives (and mostly for the better).

Remember when you had to pay for long distance telephone calls?  That’s mostly a thing of the past.  In under a minute, you can install any number of messenger apps, most of which offer VOIP capabilities and make calls to just about anywhere for nothing.

Today’s youngsters might not believe this, but many of us remember a time when if we didn’t want to listen to the radio, our only musical option was to head home to our beloved record player and vinyl albums.

A bit later we got the 8-track and not long after that, the cassette tape which was later supplanted by the CD. Today, you can have access to literally millions of songs on your mobile device.  It is even better that the days of needing an entire wall devoted to your record/tape/CD collection are gone.  Every song you can imagine is digital these days.  You can even find apps that will add the “vinyl scratchiness” sound to your music if you miss it!

The same thing goes for movies.  There is no need for piles of VHS tapes or Blu-Ray discs.  Streaming services are plentiful and you can watch your favorite movies or TV shows literally anywhere that you can get a signal on your mobile device. That is, of course, virtually anywhere.

It’s not just fun and games that have changed though.  Mobile technology has forever changed how the world works, and we got to put that to the test during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Tens of millions of people fled home and worked from there, as often as not on their trusty laptop computers.

When you’re traveling for business, between your smartphone and your laptop, you can stay in constant contact with everyone you work with. You can get real, meaningful work done on the road.  That wasn’t always possible in the earliest days of the internet, but mobile devices and our internet infrastructure have come such a long way now that both are easily done.

It’s impossible to say where mobile technology will take us next, but one thing you can be sure of is that there are more benefits to be had that we haven’t even dreamed of yet.  Mobile technology has made life more convenient in almost too many ways to count!

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Posted on Author Atlantic Computer Services Categories Blog

Apple Released Zero Day Hack Fix For Devices And Computers

If you’re an Apple user and you have an iPhone, a Mac, or both, you’ll want to grab the company’s most recent security update.

The latest release pushes out fixes for a pair of zero-day vulnerabilities that researchers have seen actively exploited in the wild.

The flaws in question are being tracked as CVE-2022-22674 and CVE-2022-22675 respectively. The former is an out-of-bounds write issue in an Intel Graphics driver and the latter is an out-of-bounds-read issue in the AppleAVD media decoder that would allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.

Impacted devices include the iPhone 6S and newer, the iPad Pro (all models), the iPad Air 2 and later, iPad 5th generation and later, iPad mini 4 and later, and the iPod Touch (7th generation).  Also note that users with Macs running macOS Monterey are at risk.

To make sure you’re protected download and install the iOS 15.4.1, the iPadOS 15.4.1, or the macOS Montery 12.3.1 update as appropriate for your device.

It’s still early in 2022 and so far, Apple has pushed out three zero-day patches this year resolving a total of five different zero-day issues.

In January 2022, the company’s first zero-day patch was pushed out resolving CVE-2022-22587 and CVE-2022-22594. Those allowed attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges and track web browsing activity in real time.

Then in February, Apple released another patch to address a new zero-day exploit that allowed attackers to hack iPhones, iPads, and Macs, leading to OS crashes and arbitrary code execution.

It appears 2022 is shaping up a lot like 2021.  Last year, Apple faced a seemingly endless stream of zero-day exploits and spent much of the year busily pushing fixes out the door.  Here’s hoping this year will be at least somewhat calmer on that front!

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Posted on Author Atlantic Computer Services Categories Blog

Upgrade Now To Fix iPhone Battery Issues

Do you have an iPhone?  If so, are you running IOS 15.4?  If you are, you may have noticed an unusual power drain on your battery that’s dramatically shortening the life per charge.  That’s the kiss of death for any handheld device and if you’re experiencing the issue, you’re not alone.

The good news is that Apple just issued a fix in the form of IOS 15.41.  Don’t let the relatively small size of the update fool you.

Though it weighs in at just over 313 MB, this is an update you won’t want to miss.  Not only does it fix the unexpected battery drain issue, but it’s packed with other cool fixes. They include a fix for braille devices that become unresponsive while navigating text or displaying certain alerts.  The latest update also fixes a problem with “Made for iPhones” hearing devices that would sometimes lose connection with third-party apps.

Granted, the other bug fixes are only applicable and important to a relatively small slice of the mammoth iPhone market but for those users who were impacted the effect was enormous. So this is a welcome patch indeed.

It’s also worth mentioning that not everyone who updated to 15.4 experienced the mysterious battery drain issue, so you may not have noted any real difference.  If you did however and it has been a source of frustration for you the fix is here and ready to be downloaded at your earliest convenience.

Kudos to Apple for moving quickly on all three issues.  There’s a reason that Apple’s customers tend to behave more like fans and the company’s prompt attention to issues like this is a big part of why.  No matter what business you’re in take a lesson from the folks at Apple.  They’re obviously not perfect but they get a lot right and they get it right consistently.  Bravo!

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Posted on Author Atlantic Computer Services Categories Blog

Mobile Devices Connected To Windows Known As Phone Link

Microsoft recently announced that it was doing a bit of re-branding.

The company’s apps that connect Android and iPhones to your Windows PC were formally called “Your Phone.” Under the new re-naming scheme, those apps will now be called “Phone Link.”

Hand in hand with that change, Microsoft is also re-naming the mobile companion app, which you now know as “Your Phone Companion.”  That’s going away and it will be restyled as simply “Link to Windows.”

The “Your Phone” app was launched just three years ago which doesn’t seem like enough time to warrant a rebrand. However, the company hasn’t shed any light on the thinking that lies behind the decision.

In any case, when it was originally launched, Microsoft envisioned it as a means for users to access the texts, photos, and apps on their phones from the comfort of their PCs. With that original vision in mind, the newly re-styled apps will get an updated interface that looks a bit more like Windows 11.

Support for previous iterations was somewhat limited, but the original “Your Phone” app worked seamlessly with most Samsung devices and was compatible with Microsoft’s own Surface Duo dual-screen.

With the recent changes, Microsoft is also adding support for several Honor phones to Phone Link. All that’s fine as far as it goes but in some ways this feels a bit like a solution looking for a problem. That is, at least for Google Pixel users.

Pixel users are likely already accessing their text messages from their PCs (which is probably the single biggest draw in terms of functionality) via Google Messages. Given the less than seamless experience with the former “Your Phone” app, there’s little incentive to change even with the improvements to the user experience. Although the company may have more luck drawing in non-Pixel users.

In any case, if you’re not a Pixel user and you’re looking for a way to access the messages and apps from your phone on your desktop, you may want to check out Microsoft’s latest on that front.

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