Utilities

Security concerns on Apple's FileVault decryption via FireWire

Yesterday's news of Passware's ability to decrypt FileVault-encrypted Macs in under an hour may have some people concerned about what this means for Mac security. After all, the purpose of encryption is to keep people from easily accessing the data on your drive, and yet Passware shows that in the hands of a capable person, your drive's encrypted contents might quite easily be uncovered.

Security experts speculate that the 128-bit XTS-AESW encryption used in FileVault would take millions of years to crack with a brute-force approach, so while Passware's approach clearly does not employ a brute-force … Read more

Canon EOS utility updated to work in OS X Lion

If you're a photographer who uses Canon equipment and has been unable to use the Canon EOS utility after installing OS X Lion, some good news: Canon has issued an update to the tool that allows it to run properly in Apple's latest operating system.

The Canon EOS Utility is an application that allows you to interface your Mac with your digital EOS camera, allowing you to not only transfer images from it and manage them but also remotely operate the camera from your computer using Canon's interface cable.

When OS X Lion was released a number … Read more

AirPort Utility 6.0 missing a number of features

Yesterday Apple released AirPort Utility 6.0 along with an update to the older Version 5.x of the same program. The new tool offers an updated and intuitive interface for managing your Wi-Fi network, but it also is missing some key features that, while not necessarily beneficial to most home users, might frustrate IT professionals and network administrators.

After installing the utility and exploring its features, MacFixIt reader Joshua O. wrote in regarding a number of these he found:

I've been surprised that no one has commented on the massive loss of functionality in the new Airport Utility. … Read more

Customize OS X system preferences (tip)

The folks at Macworld have reported on a new feature in OS X Lion that is quite useful, especially if you regularly access the system preferences.

Apple's system preferences in OS X are organized into several categories such as Personal for managing the look and feel of your OS X session, Hardware for adjusting input devices and displays, Internet & Wireless for adjusting online services and connectivity, System for user accounts and backup options, and Other for third-party add-ons you may have installed.

While this organization of the system preferences can be useful, if you access preferences a lot … Read more

Apple updates AirPort utility and Base Station firmware

Apple has released a couple of updates for its AirPort Utility software for OS X Lion, and also has released new firmware updates for its AirPort Base Station and Time Capsule router devices.

AirPort Utility 6.0 is available to edit and configure both AirPort Base Station, Time Capsule, and AirPort Express networking devices. Apple has updates the prior version to version 5.6 that resolves issues with accessing passwords in the system keychain, but has also released version 6.0 which implements support for configuring iCloud to remotely access mass storage attached to the AirPort and Time Capsule devices. … Read more

Troubleshooting toolkit recommendations for Mac users

When troubleshooting OS X it helps to be prepared with an arsenal of tools that can help narrow down what exactly is contributing to the problems at hand. Having tools that help you investigate files, monitor system events and input or output, and control aspects of the hardware is very useful to have when trying to perform troubleshooting tasks.

If you want--or need--to troubleshoot a problem with your Mac, here are some recommended tools. You don't need to keep these on your system at all times, but knowing they're available makes them easy to access in the event … Read more

Mac EFI firmware updates enable OS X Lion Internet recovery

Apple has made a few EFI firmware updates available this week for Mac users who own a MacBook, 13-inch MacBook Pro, or Mac Mini system from mid 2010, which give these computers the capability to start up the Lion recovery routine via the Internet. In addition, the Mac Mini update fixes a problem with the setting for restarting after a power failure not being retained.

The updates are small downloads of about 3MB in size that should be available via Software Update for relevant systems, but can also be downloaded from the following Apple Support Web pages:

Mac Mini (Mid 2010) EFI Firmware Update 1.5 … Read more

Exclusive one day deal for IObit Malware Fighter - save 83%

IObit Malware Fighter is an advanced malware and spyware removal utility that detects and removes the deepest infections, and protects your PC from various of potential spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers, bots, worms, and hijackers. It's a tool that works along side with your AV, allowing it to scan and remove any malware your antivirus/ antispyware may have missed.

With the improved, unique "Dual-Core" engine and the heuristic malware detection, IObit Malware Fighter detects the most complex and deepest spyware and malware quickly and efficiently.

Rated 4.5 stars by CNET, we have the the lowest price on … Read more

Free DNSCrypt tool enhances Mac Web security

When you connect to a Web site on the Internet, your computer uses the Domain Name System (DNS) to convert URLs like "www.macfixit.com" to the IP address for the server where that Web site resides.

This system is a hierarchical network of computers throughout the world that distributes a database of domains and subdomains, allowing the system to resolve the components of the URL ("com," "macfixit," and "www") to a specific IP address out of millions of publicly available ones. This system is used for Web browsing, but also for … Read more

Move an old PC to your new one - save 83%

Got a new PC on Black Friday or Cyber Monday and want to set up your new PC to have the same settings and personality as your old PC? With PCmover Express, you can move up to three of your favorite programs along with your files and settings from your old PC to your new PC in matter of a few clicks. PC Mover Express lets you transfer files and programs to a new computer so it will have the same personality and functionality as your old PC. It's the easiest way to move into a new machine without … Read more