What is MacKeeper? MacKeeper is an alleged utility software suite for macOS that has tools for cleaning, security, and optimization. The software is heavily promoted, and is the subject of a class-action lawsuit for false advertising. The bottom line: MacKeeper is a highly invasive software, that can destabilize your operating system. Some call MacKeeper a virus or a […]
Did you know that with every photo you take, private and personal data is stored within the image? Metadata and EXIF data (e.g. date, location, device used) is hidden inside every photo you take. Here’s just a little sample of data from a photo I took a few years ago. It’s a tad disconcerting, especially […]
iCloud will back up a few things on your computer—photos, contacts, calendars, etc. But, it iCloud is not a comprehensive backup solution for your whole computer. Here’s a list of what iCloud actually backs up. iCloud: iCloud storage and backup overview You need to back up everything on your computer—not just a few bits of […]
EtreCheck – I love this app. It has many uses, including malware and adware removal. EtreCheck is a free tool that explains what is going on inside your Macintosh. EtreCheck consolidates information from over 50 different diagnostics tasks and displays it all on one concise report. EtreCheck can identify common problems like a failing hard […]
Since most of us store our Gmail in the cloud, do you ever wonder how susceptible it may be to data loss? What if there was some type of server crash, and all your email was lost? Not to worry – Google takes plenty of steps to make sure that your data is safe. But […]
I found a great keyboard shortcut over the weekend – it allows you to view hidden files in dialog boxes. It’s really quite simple – When an open/save dialog box is on-screen, use the following keyboard shortcut to view hidden files: Shift – Command – Period (⇧+⌘+.) Here’s a screenshot, with hidden files visible:
After several years using different online backup products, I can finally recommend the best one – BackBlaze. It’s inexpensive, provides unlimited storage space, and allows unlimited file sizes. It’s also fast – much faster than the competition (e.g. Carbonite). I was using Carbonite initially, but I switched to BackBlaze due to software problems, slow backups, […]
Passwords (even strong ones) aren’t as secure as they used to be. To give your accounts an extra level of security, enable two-step verification. The process usually involves entering your password, followed by a temporary PIN (sent to your mobile phone). Here’s a short list to get started (many others offer the service). Enable two-step verification […]
By now, you’ve probably seen online ads for MacKeeper. Actually, you’ve probably seen a thousand ads for MacKeeper. Pop-up ads and misleading advertising is the cornerstone of their business. It’s basically a software advertised to “clean” your computer, but that’s far from the truth. Stay away from this program. The effectiveness (and overall safety) of this […]
Need to create a password? Let your Mac do it for you. Password Assistant will automatically generate a password. You can adjust the specifics, such as password length, letters and numbers only, etc. 1. Open “Keychain Access” in the Utilities folder (Select “Go” from the Finder menu) […]