How to edit files in TextEdit from the OS X Terminal

NewTerminalIconXIf you are a Terminal user, then you very likely spend a fair amount of time editing various text files, be they configuration files, scripts, or data files you might use for your work. For a seasoned Terminal veteran, the various text editors like vi, emacs, and nano, may offer all the tools needed for getting the job done, but for those less familiar, managing these tools can be cumbersome. Luckily, in OS X there is a quick way to make use of GUI-based programs for handling pretty much any document you might encounter in the Terminal. Continue reading

New Zero-Day memory injection vulnerability discovered in OS X

BurnIconXPCWorld is reporting that a new zero-day vulnerability has been found for OS X, which affects versions of OS X from 10.9.5 through to the recently-released 10.10.5. The problem comes from how NULL pointers in programs are handled, where malicious programs may use a special condition to bypass the default location where NULL code is directed to, and allow the program to bypass OS X’s security. Continue reading

Quick fixes for icons missing from your desktop

DesktopAndScreenSaverIconXThe desktop on your Mac serves multiple purposes, as both a representation of the Desktop folder contents in your home directory, and as a location to access computer resources, such as hard drives and mounted network shares. These make the desktop a convenient place to store temporary work, and organize commonly-accessed files; however, there may be times when items you know should be on the desktop are missing. Continue reading

Malware developers targeting MacKeeper settlement Web page

BurnIconXFollowing the recent announcement of the MacKeeper legal settlement, malware developers are creating routines that redirect people from the settlement site to nefarious Web pages that use javascript hacks to “lock” a browser. When this happens, you will see an alert window that has an OK button, but clicking the button just pops open another alert. Continue reading

Feeling burnt by MacKeeper? Claim a refund

MacKeeperIconXIf you have purchased the MacKeeper utility suite for your Mac and are finding it does not perform its functions as advertised, then you can now make a claim for a refund of your purchase.

MacKeeper has developed a reputation as one of the more notorious software packages for OS X, which offers tools for repairing, cleaning, and securing Mac OS systems. Continue reading

Overcome Gatekeeper automatically re-enabling in OS X Yosemite

SecurityIconXThe Gatekeeper feature in OS X is a security measure that adds a layer of protection by only allowing Apple-approved apps to run, be they either from members of Apple’s developer community, or apps that are distributed in the App Store. This feature should be enabled by default, but if desired you can change Gatekeeper’s behavior, or disable it altogether. However, some OS X 10.10 users have found that after a while, Gatekeeper may re-enable automatically. Continue reading