Is GROWL necessary to installed in Mac OS 10.7.2?
Is GROWL necessary to installed in Mac OS 10.7.2?
Thanks.
This is not info on how to remove Growl, but rather, info about what Growl is and what it does.
https://www.dropbox.com/help/48
What is Growl? How does Dropbox use it?
From Growl's website: "Growl is a notification system for Mac OS X: It allows applications that support Growl to send you notifications." In other words, Growl lets Dropbox notify you of any Dropbox activity right on your desktop. If Dropbox detects Growl is installed on your Mac, it will use it to display all Dropbox notifications.
Growl notifications appear at the top right corner of the screen. A Growl notification will appear whenever new changes are made to the contents of your Dropbox, such as a newly added file or a change to a shared folder.
Note from David:
Therefore, "growlhelperapp" is a support file of Growl, which is placed on your system if you use Dropbox — that is, if you have enabled the Dropbox App.
Growl appeared on my system yesterday, after I subscribed to Dropbox and enabled the Dropbox app. Whem the Dropbox App is enabled, it adds GrowlHelperApp — among other places — in the Login Items in your Accounts. Accounts is found in your System Preferences.
Also, since Growl serves as a notification tool, it might be placed on your system by means other than Dropbox. That is, it might be placed on your system by any number of applications that use Growl for notification purposes. By "notification" I mean, for example, that Growl is the way in which Dropbox notifies me that someone has added something new to one of my Dropbox folders.
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I am a new Mac user. It is necessary to install an antivirus?
I am a new Mac user. Before this, I used a PC and it was necessary to have an antivirus.
It is necessary to install an antivirus in my Mac? In this case, how can I do it?
Thanks!Mac users often ask whether they should install "anti-virus" software. The answer usually given on ASC is "no." The answer is right, but it may give the wrong impression that there is no threat from what are loosely called "viruses." There is a threat, and you need to educate yourself about it.
1. This is a comment on what you should—and should not—do to protect yourself from malicious software ("malware") that circulates on the Internet and gets onto a computer as an unintended consequence of the user's actions. It does not apply to software, such as keystroke loggers, that may be installed deliberately by an intruder who has hands-on access to the computer, or who has been able to take control of it remotely. That threat is in a different category, and there's no easy way to defend against it.
The comment is long because the issue is complex. The key points are in sections 5, 6, and 10.
OS X now implements three layers of built-in protection specifically against malware, not counting runtime protections such as execute disable, sandboxing, system library randomization, and address space layout randomization that may also guard against other kinds of exploits.
2. All versions of OS X since 10.6.7 have been able to detect known Mac malware in downloaded files, and to block insecure web plugins. This feature is transparent to the user. Internally Apple calls it "XProtect."
The malware recognition database used by XProtect is automatically updated; however, you shouldn't rely on it, because the attackers are always at least a day ahead of the defenders.
The following caveats apply to XProtect:
☞ It can be bypassed by some third-party networking software, such as BitTorrent clients and Java applets.
☞ It only applies to software downloaded from the network. Software installed from a CD or other media is not checked.
As new versions of OS X are released, it's not clear whether Apple will indefinitely continue to maintain the XProtect database of older versions such as 10.6. The security of obsolete system versions may eventually be degraded. Security updates to the code of obsolete systems will stop being released at some point, and that may leave them open to other kinds of attack besides malware.
3. Starting with OS X 10.7.5, there has been a second layer of built-in malware protection, designated "Gatekeeper" by Apple. By default, applications and Installer packages downloaded from the network will only run if they're digitally signed by a developer with a certificate issued by Apple. Software certified in this way hasn't necessarily been tested by Apple, but you can be reasonably sure that it hasn't been modified by anyone other than the developer. His identity is known to Apple, so he could be held legally responsible if he distributed malware. That may not mean much if the developer lives in a country with a weak legal system (see below.)
Gatekeeper doesn't depend on a database of known malware. It has, however, the same limitations as XProtect, and in addition the following:
☞ It can easily be disabled or overridden by the user.
☞ A malware attacker could get control of a code-signing certificate under false pretenses, or could simply ignore the consequences of distributing codesigned malware.
☞ An App Store developer could find a way to bypass Apple's oversight, or the oversight could fail due to human error.
Apple has taken far too long to revoke the codesigning certificates of some known abusers, thereby diluting the value of Gatekeeper and the Developer ID program. Those lapses don't involve App Store products, however.
For the reasons given, App Store products, and—to a lesser extent—other applications recognized by Gatekeeper as signed, are safer than others, but they can't be considered absolutely safe. "Sandboxed" applications may prompt for access to private data, such as your contacts, or for access to the network. Think before granting that access. Sandbox security is based on user input. Never click through any request for authorization without thinking.
4. Starting with OS X 10.8.3, a third layer of protection has been added: a "Malware Removal Tool" (MRT). MRT runs automatically in the background when you update the OS. It checks for, and removes, malware that may have evaded the other protections via a Java exploit (see below.) MRT also runs when you install or update the Apple-supplied Java runtime (but not the Oracle runtime.) Like XProtect, MRT is effective against known threats, but not against unknown ones. It notifies you if it finds malware, but otherwise there's no user interface to MRT.
5. The built-in security features of OS X reduce the risk of malware attack, but they are not, and never will be, complete protection. Malware is a problem of human behavior, not machine behavior, and no technological fix alone is going to solve it. Trusting software to protect you will only make you more vulnerable.
The best defense is always going to be your own intelligence. With the possible exception of Java exploits, all known malware circulating on the Internet that affects a fully-updated installation of OS X 10.6 or later takes the form of so-called "Trojan horses," which can only have an effect if the victim is duped into running them. The threat therefore amounts to a battle of wits between you and Internet criminals. If you're better informed than they think you are, you'll win. That means, in practice, that you always stay within a safe harbor of computing practices. How do you know when you're leaving the safe harbor? Below are some warning signs of danger.
Software from an untrustworthy source
☞ Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, doesn't come directly from the developer’s website. Do not trust an alert from any website to update Flash, or your browser, or any other software. A genuine alert that Flash is outdated and blocked is shown on this support page. Follow the instructions on the support page in that case. Otherwise, assume that the alert is fake and someone is trying to scam you into installing malware. If you see such alerts on more than one website, ask for instructions.
☞ Software of any kind is distributed via BitTorrent, or Usenet, or on a website that also distributes pirated music or movies.
☞ Rogue websites such as Softonic, Soft32, and CNET Download distribute free applications that have been packaged in a superfluous "installer."
☞ The software is advertised by means of spam or intrusive web ads. Any ad, on any site, that includes a direct link to a download should be ignored.
Software that is plainly illegal or does something illegal
☞ High-priced commercial software such as Photoshop is "cracked" or "free."
☞ An application helps you to infringe copyright, for instance by circumventing the copy protection on commercial software, or saving streamed media for reuse without permission. All "YouTube downloaders" are in this category, though not all are necessarily malicious.
Conditional or unsolicited offers from strangers
☞ A telephone caller or a web page tells you that you have a “virus” and offers to help you remove it. (Some reputable websites did legitimately warn visitors who were infected with the "DNSChanger" malware. That exception to this rule no longer applies.)
☞ A web site offers free content such as video or music, but to use it you must install a “codec,” “plug-in,” "player," "downloader," "extractor," or “certificate” that comes from that same site, or an unknown one.
☞ You win a prize in a contest you never entered.
☞ Someone on a message board such as this one is eager to help you, but only if you download an application of his choosing.
☞ A "FREE WI-FI !!!" network advertises itself in a public place such as an airport, but is not provided by the management.
☞ Anything online that you would expect to pay for is "free."
Unexpected events
☞ A file is downloaded automatically when you visit a web page, with no other action on your part. Delete any such file without opening it.
☞ You open what you think is a document and get an alert that it's "an application downloaded from the Internet." Click Cancel and delete the file. Even if you don't get the alert, you should still delete any file that isn't what you expected it to be.
☞ An application does something you don't expect, such as asking for permission to access your contacts, your location, or the Internet for no obvious reason.
☞ Software is attached to email that you didn't request, even if it comes (or seems to come) from someone you trust.
I don't say that leaving the safe harbor just once will necessarily result in disaster, but making a habit of it will weaken your defenses against malware attack. Any of the above scenarios should, at the very least, make you uncomfortable.
6. Java on the Web (not to be confused with JavaScript, to which it's not related, despite the similarity of the names) is a weak point in the security of any system. Java is, among other things, a platform for running complex applications in a web page, on the client. That was always a bad idea, and Java's developers have proven themselves incapable of implementing it without also creating a portal for malware to enter. Past Java exploits are the closest thing there has ever been to a Windows-style virus affecting OS X. Merely loading a page with malicious Java content could be harmful.
Fortunately, client-side Java on the Web is obsolete and mostly extinct. Only a few outmoded sites still use it. Try to hasten the process of extinction by avoiding those sites, if you have a choice. Forget about playing games or other non-essential uses of Java.
Java is not included in OS X 10.7 and later. Discrete Java installers are distributed by Apple and by Oracle (the developer of Java.) Don't use either one unless you need it. Most people don't. If Java is installed, disable it—not JavaScript—in your browsers.
Regardless of version, experience has shown that Java on the Web can't be trusted. If you must use a Java applet for a task on a specific site, enable Java only for that site in Safari. Never enable Java for a public website that carries third-party advertising. Use it only on well-known, login-protected, secure websites without ads. In Safari 6 or later, you'll see a padlock icon in the address bar when visiting a secure site.
Stay within the safe harbor, and you’ll be as safe from malware as you can practically be. The rest of this comment concerns what you should not do to protect yourself.
7. Never install any commercial "anti-virus" (AV) or "Internet security" products for the Mac, as they are all worse than useless. If you need to be able to detect Windows malware in your files, use one of the free security apps in the Mac App Store—nothing else.
Why shouldn't you use commercial AV products?
☞ To recognize malware, the software depends on a database of known threats, which is always at least a day out of date. This technique is a proven failure, as a major AV software vendor has admitted. Most attacks are "zero-day"—that is, previously unknown. Recognition-based AV does not defend against such attacks, and the enterprise IT industry is coming to the realization that traditional AV software is worthless.
☞ Its design is predicated on the nonexistent threat that malware may be injected at any time, anywhere in the file system. Malware is downloaded from the network; it doesn't materialize from nowhere. In order to meet that nonexistent threat, commercial AV software modifies or duplicates low-level functions of the operating system, which is a waste of resources and a common cause of instability, bugs, and poor performance.
☞ By modifying the operating system, the software may also create weaknesses that could be exploited by malware attackers.
☞ Most importantly, a false sense of security is dangerous.
8. An AV product from the App Store, such as "ClamXav," has the same drawback as the commercial suites of being always out of date, but it does not inject low-level code into the operating system. That doesn't mean it's entirely harmless. It may report email messages that have "phishing" links in the body, or Windows malware in attachments, as infected files, and offer to delete or move them. Doing so will corrupt the Mail database. The messages should be deleted from within the Mail application.
An AV app is not needed, and cannot be relied upon, for protection against OS X malware. It's useful, if at all, only for detecting Windows malware, and even for that use it's not really effective, because new Windows malware is emerging much faster than OS X malware.
Windows malware can't harm you directly (unless, of course, you use Windows.) Just don't pass it on to anyone else. A malicious attachment in email is usually easy to recognize by the name alone. An actual example:
London Terror Moovie.avi [124 spaces] Checked By Norton Antivirus.exe
You don't need software to tell you that's a Windows trojan. Software may be able to tell you which trojan it is, but who cares? In practice, there's no reason to use recognition software unless an organizational policy requires it. Windows malware is so widespread that you should assume it's in every email attachment until proven otherwise. Nevertheless, ClamXav or a similar product from the App Store may serve a purpose if it satisfies an ill-informed network administrator who says you must run some kind of AV application. It's free and it won't handicap the system.
The ClamXav developer won't try to "upsell" you to a paid version of the product. Other developers may do that. Don't be upsold. For one thing, you should not pay to protect Windows users from the consequences of their choice of computing platform. For another, a paid upgrade from a free app will probably have all the disadvantages mentioned in section 7.
9. It seems to be a common belief that the built-in Application Firewall acts as a barrier to infection, or prevents malware from functioning. It does neither. It blocks inbound connections to certain network services you're running, such as file sharing. It's disabled by default and you should leave it that way if you're behind a router on a private home or office network. Activate it only when you're on an untrusted network, for instance a public Wi-Fi hotspot, where you don't want to provide services. Disable any services you don't use in the Sharing preference pane. All are disabled by default.
10. As a Mac user, you don't have to live in fear that your computer may be infected every time you install software, read email, or visit a web page. But neither can you assume that you will always be safe from exploitation, no matter what you do. Navigating the Internet is like walking the streets of a big city. It can be as safe or as dangerous as you choose to make it. The greatest harm done by security software is precisely its selling point: it makes people feel safe. They may then feel safe enough to take risks from which the software doesn't protect them. Nothing can lessen the need for safe computing practices. -
HI, is it necessary to "clean" your Mac? I'm not sure what that means or what it does but I've been getting ads that offer to clean it. Would doing that make surfing the web faster? Thanks!
Suggestions for Mac maintenance
Make redundant backups, keeping at least one off-site at all times. One backup is not enough. Don’t back up your backups; make them independent of each other. Don’t rely completely on any single backup method, such as Time Machine.
Keep your software up to date. Software Update can be set to notify you automatically of updates to the Mac OS. Some third-party applications have a similar feature, if you don’t mind letting them phone home. Otherwise you have to check yourself on a regular basis.
Don't install crapware, such as “themes,” "haxies," “add-ons,” “toolbars,” “enhancers," “optimizers,” “accelerators,” “extenders,” “cleaners,” “defragmenters,” “firewalls,” “guardians,” “defenders,” “protectors,” most “plugins,” commercial "virus scanners,” or "utilities." With very few exceptions, this kind of material is useless, or worse than useless. The more actively promoted the product, the more likely it is to be garbage. The only software you should install is that which directly enables you to do the things you use a computer for — such as creating, communicating, and playing — and does not modify the way other software works. Never install any third-party software unless you know how to uninstall it.
The free anti-malware application ClamXav is not crap, and although it’s not routinely needed, it may be useful in some environments, such as a mixed Mac-Windows enterprise network.
Beware of trojans. A trojan is malicious software (“malware”) that the user is duped into installing voluntarily. Such attacks were rare on the Mac platform until recently, but are now increasingly common, and increasingly dangerous. There is some built-in protection against downloading malware, but you can’t rely on it — the attackers are always at least one day ahead of the defense. You can’t rely on third-party protection either. What you can rely on is common-sense awareness — not paranoia, which only makes you more vulnerable. Never install software from an untrustworthy or unknown source. If in doubt, do some research. Any website that prompts you to install a “codec” or “plugin” that comes from the same site, or an unknown site, is untrustworthy. Software with a known corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash, must be acquired directly from the developer. No intermediary is acceptable, and don’t trust links unless you know how to parse them. Any file that is automatically downloaded from a web page without your having requested it should go straight into the Trash. A website that claims you have a “virus,” or that anything else is wrong with your computer, is rogue.
Relax, don’t do it. Besides the above, no routine maintenance is necessary or beneficial for the vast majority of users; specifically not “cleaning caches,” “zapping the PRAM,” “rebuilding the directory,” “running periodic scripts,” “deleting log files,” “scanning for viruses,” or “repairing permissions.” Such measures are for solving problems as they arise, not for maintenance. The very height of futility is running an expensive third-party application called “Disk Warrior” when nothing is wrong, or even when something is wrong and you have backups, which you must have. Don’t waste money on Disk Warrior or anything like it. -
How can I retrieve a lost password from my computer necessary to install Adobe flash player
How can I retrieve a lost password from my computer necessary to install Adobe flash player
Forgot Your Account Password
For Lion, Mountain Lion, or Mavericks
Boot to the Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
When the menubar appears select Terminal from the Utilities menu.
Enter resetpassword at the prompt and press RETURN. Follow
instructions in the dialog window that will appear.
Or see:
Reset a Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Password
OS X Mountain Lion- Reset a login password,
OS X Mavericks- Solve password problems,
OS X Lion- Apple ID can be used to reset your user account password.
For Snow Leopard and earlier with installer DVD
Mac OS X 10.6- If you forget your administrator password,
OS X- Changing or resetting an account password (Snow Leopard and earlier).
For Snow Leopard and earlier without installer DVD
How to reset your Mac OS X password without an installer disc | MacYourself
Reset OS X Password Without an OS X CD — Tech News and Analysis
How To Create A New Administrator Account - Hack Mac -
Is it necessary to clean a Mac?
Is it necessary to clean a Mac?
How to maintain a Mac
1. Make redundant backups, keeping at least one off site at all times. One backup is not enough. Don’t back up your backups; make them independent of each other. Don’t rely completely on any single backup method, such as Time Machine. If you get an indication that a backup has failed, don't ignore it.
2. Keep your software up to date. In the Software Update preference pane, you can configure automatic notifications of updates to OS X and other Mac App Store products. Some third-party applications from other sources have a similar feature, if you don’t mind letting them phone home. Otherwise you have to check yourself on a regular basis. This is especially important for complex software that modifies the operating system, such as device drivers. Before installing any Apple update, you must check that all such modifications that you use are compatible.
3. Don't install crapware, such as “themes,” "haxies," “add-ons,” “toolbars,” “enhancers," “optimizers,” “accelerators,” “extenders,” “cleaners,” "tune-ups," “defragmenters,” “firewalls,” "barriers," “guardians,” “defenders,” “protectors,” most “plugins,” commercial "virus scanners,” "disk tools," or "utilities." With very few exceptions, this stuff is useless, or worse than useless.
The more actively promoted the product, the more likely it is to be garbage. The most extreme example is the “MacKeeper” scam.
As a rule, the only software you should install is that which directly enables you to do the things you use a computer for — such as creating, communicating, and playing — and does not modify the way other software works. Use your computer; don't fuss with it.
Never install any third-party software unless you know how to uninstall it. Otherwise you may create problems that are very hard to solve.
The free anti-malware application ClamXav is not crap, and although it’s not routinely needed, it may be useful in some environments, such as a mixed Mac-Windows enterprise network.
4. Beware of trojans. A trojan is malicious software (“malware”) that the user is duped into installing voluntarily. Such attacks were rare on the Mac platform until sometime in 2011, but are now increasingly common, and increasingly dangerous.
There is some built-in protection against downloading malware, but you can’t rely on it — the attackers are always at least one day ahead of the defense. You can’t rely on third-party protection either. What you can rely on is common-sense awareness — not paranoia, which only makes you more vulnerable.
Never install software from an untrustworthy or unknown source. If in doubt, do some research. Any website that prompts you to install a “codec” or “plugin” that comes from the same site, or an unknown site, is untrustworthy. Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, must be acquired directly from the developer. No intermediary is acceptable, and don’t trust links unless you know how to parse them. Any file that is automatically downloaded from a web page without your having requested it should go straight into the Trash. A website that claims you have a “virus,” or that anything else is wrong with your computer, is rogue.
In OS X 10.7.5 or later, downloaded applications and Installer packages that have not been digitally signed by a developer registered with Apple are blocked from loading by default. The block can be overridden, but think carefully before you do so.
Because of recurring security issues in Java, it’s best to disable it in your web browsers, if it’s installed. Few websites have Java content nowadays, so you won’t be missing much. This action is mandatory if you’re running any version of OS X older than 10.6.8 with the latest Java update. Note: Java has nothing to do with JavaScript, despite the similar names. Don't install Java unless you're sure you need it. Most users don't.
5. Don't fill up your boot volume. A common mistake is adding more and more large files to your home folder until you start to get warnings that you're out of space, which may be followed in short order by a boot failure. This is more prone to happen on the newer Macs that come with an internal SSD instead of the traditional hard drive. The drive can be very nearly full before you become aware of the problem. While it's not true that you should or must keep any particular percentage of space free, you should monitor your storage consumption and make sure you're not in immediate danger of using it up. According to Apple documentation, you need at least 9 GB of free space on the startup volume for normal operation.
If storage space is running low, use a tool such as the free application OmniDiskSweeper to explore your volume and find out what's taking up the most space. Move rarely-used large files to secondary storage.
6. Relax, don’t do it. Besides the above, no routine maintenance is necessary or beneficial for the vast majority of users; specifically not “cleaning caches,” “zapping the PRAM,” "resetting the SMC," “rebuilding the directory,” "defragmenting the drive," “running periodic scripts,” “dumping logs,” "deleting temp files," “scanning for viruses,” "purging memory," "checking for bad blocks," or “repairing permissions.” Such measures are either completely pointless or are useful only for solving problems, not for prevention.
The very height of futility is running an expensive third-party application called “Disk Warrior” when nothing is wrong, or even when something is wrong and you have backups, which you must have. Disk Warrior is a data-salvage tool, not a maintenance tool, and you will never need it if your backups are adequate. Don’t waste money on it or anything like it. -
Error: "install failed mac os x could not be installed on your computer"
Wanted to post an error I repeatedly got in case anyone else out there has the same issue. Went to do a snowleopard (10.6) upgrade and clean install on a mac pro (coming from 10.5). After about the "26 minutes left" mark I repeatedly got the following error:
"install failed mac os x could not be installed on your computer
the installer could not copy the necessary support files
click restart to restart your computer and try installing again"
i searched a bunch for this and could not find any definitive answers or help.
the log file was very vague, referring to errors writing package(s).
at first i thought it was a bad DVD drive as it was making a bunch of noise and taking a long time to boot. So i went and purchased a new DVD drive and successfully installed it. nope, same issue. then i pulled out all of my 3rd party RAM. nope. then i tried swapping the RAM into different configurations, nope.
after many many hours of various methods and re-partitioning, etc, just for the heck of it i replaced the harddrive, and it worked!
So, for those of you out there who get this error, try troubleshooting your hardware, try swapping your harddrive.You should be able to install Mac OS X 10.7 or later on your 2011 MacBook Pro without issue, if it came with 10.6.3 as your signature suggests. Mind you, any 2011 MacBook Pro must use the original 10.6 installer disc labelled MacBook Pro if it desires to have 10.6 installed on it. The retail installer disc will not work on that model, nor will one from another age MacBook Pro, or other model labelled installer. Also
10.7 came both on USB Flash drive and Mac App Store installer versions. Both required either 10.6.6 minimum be pre-installed, or no Mac OS X operating system on the drive or partition it was to be installed on.
10.7.1 through 10.7.5 combo could be installed only once 10.7 had been installed. A combo update is available for installing on top of any version of 10.7. Otherwise only the preceding version could be updated to the next.
10.8 came only on Mac App Store installer. It is available only to 10.6.8 and later users.
10.8.1 to 10.8.5 combo could be installed only once 10.8 had been installed. A combo update is available for installing on top of any version of 10.8. Otherwise only the preceding version could be updated to the next.
10.9 came only on Mac App Store installer. It is available only to 10.6.8 and later users.
Both 10.9 and 10.9.1 had a serious security vulnerability, which only 10.9.2 addressed.
10.9.2 combo could be installed only once 10.9 had been installed.
For all three Mac App Store releases, the partition to be installed on had to be GUID partition formatted according to Apple Disk Utility. -
Is antivirus necessary on the new Mac Air, need reassurance.
Is an antivirus necessary on the new Mac Air, I need to be sure!
mastertaster wrote:
Is an antivirus necessary on the new Mac Air, I need to be sure!
If you are using OS X as indicated in your profile, you already have it.
OS X already includes everything it needs to protect itself from viruses and malware. Keep it updated with software updates from Apple.
A much better question to ask is "how should I protect my Mac":
Never install any product that claims to "speed up", "clean up", "optimize", or "accelerate" your Mac. Without exception, they will do the opposite.
Never install pirated or "cracked" software, software obtained from dubious websites, or other questionable sources. Illegally obtained software is almost certain to contain malware.
Don’t supply your password in response to a popup window requesting it, unless you know what it is and the reason your credentials are required.
Don’t open email attachments from email addresses that you do not recognize, or click links contained in an email:
Most of these are scams that direct you to fraudulent sites that attempt to convince you to disclose personal information.
Such "phishing" attempts are the 21st century equivalent of a social exploit that has existed since the dawn of civilization. Don’t fall for it.
Apple will never ask you to reveal personal information in an email. If you receive an unexpected email from Apple saying your account will be closed unless you take immediate action, just ignore it. If your iTunes or App Store account becomes disabled for valid reasons, you will know when you try to buy something or log in to this support site, and are unable to.
Don’t install browser extensions unless you understand their purpose. Go to the Safari menu > Preferences > Extensions. If you see any extensions that you do not recognize or understand, simply click the Uninstall button and they will be gone.
Don’t install Java unless you are certain that you need it:
Java, a non-Apple product, is a potential vector for malware. If you are required to use Java, be mindful of that possibility.
Disable Java in Safari > Preferences > Security.
Despite its name JavaScript is unrelated to Java. No malware can infect your Mac through JavaScript. It’s OK to leave it enabled.
Block browser popups: Safari menu > Preferences > Security > and check "Block popup windows":
Popup windows are useful and required for some websites, but popups have devolved to become a common means to deliver targeted advertising that you probably do not want.
Popups themselves cannot infect your Mac, but many contain resource-hungry code that will slow down Internet browsing.
If you ever see a popup indicating it detected registry errors, that your Mac is infected with some ick, or that you won some prize, it is 100% fraudulent. Ignore it.
Ignore hyperventilating popular media outlets that thrive by promoting fear and discord with entertainment products arrogantly presented as "news". Learn what real threats actually exist and how to arm yourself against them:
The most serious threat to your data security is phishing. To date, most of these attempts have been pathetic and are easily recognized, but that is likely to change in the future as criminals become more clever.
OS X viruses do not exist, but intentionally malicious or poorly written code, created by either nefarious or inept individuals, is nothing new.
Never install something without first knowing what it is, what it does, how it works, and how to get rid of it when you don’t want it any more.
If you elect to use "anti-virus" software, familiarize yourself with its limitations and potential to cause adverse effects, and apply the principle immediately preceding this one.
Most such utilities will only slow down and destabilize your Mac while they look for viruses that do not exist, conveying no benefit whatsoever - other than to make you "feel good" about security, when you should actually be exercising sound judgment, derived from accurate knowledge, based on verifiable facts.
Do install updates from Apple as they become available. No one knows more about Macs and how to protect them than the company that builds them.
Summary: Use common sense and caution when you use your Mac, just like you would in any social context. There is no product, utility, or magic talisman that can protect you from all the evils of mankind. -
Safari won't quit, so I can't install Office Mac.
Hey guys. I got my new Office Mac, and I was hoping to install it. It said Firefox and Safari needed to close. Firefox was a snap (good job guys!), but Safari is doing HORRIBLE. It is not forcing to quit at all, and I don't want to restart or shut down (I bet it wouldn't work.) Now, according to THIS issue... I can't install my Mac Office 2011, and THAT on the other hand stinks, because I need it for school projects.
Is anyone willing to offer advice??? Thanks!!!
~AppleFan17You say even force quitting won't work? When Safari is open hold down Option + ⌘ + Q.
-
I recently purchased an iMac to replace my 2008 macbook.
I used migration assitant to transfer all of my macbook files to the iMac. I noticed that I had the old 2008 version of Office:mac 2008 on the iMac and decided to install Office:mac 2011 which installed successfully.
However, now I can't open excel or word or powwerpoint now using either 2008 or 2011.... I just get an error message saying there was an error and the app had to close. It offers to send a report to Microsoft.
I tried moving Office:mac 2008 to trash but this didn't resolve the issue.
Can anyone help (I am not a really sohpisticated user so be gentle)
Thanks DaveHello Dave,
This forum is for troubleshooting Apple Software Update for Windows, a software package for Windows designed to update Apple products that run on Windows, and not related to Microsoft Office in any way. I suggest you post Office related questions on Microsoft's own forums for their Mac products.
http://www.officeformac.com/productforums -
I got a Model Number: A1181, My hard drive burned out. I bouhgt a new hard drive Wd Blue Scorpio 500 GB. When i tried to install the MAC OS, it identifies a hard drive with 3.6 TB and i'm not able to do the installation. I touhgt the new ard drive was bad but i was able to install windows XP. Any ideas what do i have to do?
Well, let's hope that nothing was jiggled out of place when you were installing the new hard drive. Your optical drive may just be out of alignment or the disc you have is "dirty." Get a lint-free cloth and some rubbing alcohol, then clean the disc as thoroughly as you can starting from the center and working outward in a concentric circlular motion. See if that helps. In particular clean the inner portion well.
If this does not help, then you have a problem. You have opened the computer yourself. That action voids all support from Apple. If you take the computer in for service the store may refuse to service the computer. This is not related to your now expired warranty. -
How to convert an ipod with Windows software installed to Mac operation
I have a 20MB ipod which has windows software on it. It is very hard to load songs onto as I can only see the ICON on the desktop and not in itunes and this way they don't seem to properly mount! I have a 12" ibook that I connect it to. I can't seem to follow how one is supposed to wipe the Windows OS (or whatever) off the ipod and install the Mac one ?!?!? Am I trying to do the impossible? A step-by-step answer would be soooooo appreciated.
12" ibook Mac OS X (10.4.2)Information on the iPod not appearing in iTunes is available in this article. To reformat the iPod for Mac, open a new Finder window and click the Applications icon in the sidebar; from here, open Utilities and then iPod Software Updater. Locate the most recent version of the iPod updater inside, open it, and click the Restore button with the iPod connected. Doing this will change the iPod into the Mac format and erase everything currently on it.
(10717) -
working with my 2 FireWire HD i had a crash. the only way to start was a safe start. then id maged to start from a DVD and install a MAC OS 10.3 wich ran 4 some time then the same problem only safeMode. kernel panic by inserting the tech tool DVD, wich produces the following highligted text:
panic(cpu 0 caller =xffff0003): 0x300 - Data access
latest stack backtrace for CPU 0:
Backtrace:
0x0009CC88 0x00D63C 0x00029DAO 0x000BOA10 0x000B4270
proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x26acd700)
PC=0x2717E900; MSR=0x00009030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x2717EBE4; R1=0x26AD3AE0; XCP=0x0000000C (0x300 - Data access)
Backtrace:
0x27178B0 0x00344ACB 0x00345970 0x2717EC08 0x2718458 0x00340590
0x003496EC 0x0034B59C 0x0034A6BC 0x000B1DD4
Kernel Loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.driver.AppleFWDHC1(3.9.5)00x2717c000->0x271aafff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.10PCIFamily(2.6)00x1e840000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.I0FireWireFamily(3.4.7)00x270dd000
Exception state (sv=0x26abd280)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x00000000; LR=0x00000000;R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x00000000 (unknown)
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task
so what
greetings from berlinGreetings,
It appears to be a FW problem, possibly flaky case, or drive problem.
One way to test is to Safe Boot from the HD, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, Test for problem in Safe Mode...
PS. Safe boot may stay on the gray radian for a long time, let it go, it's trying to repair the Hard Drive
Reboot, test again.
If it only does it in Regular Boot, then it could be some hardware problem like Video card, (Quartz is turned off in Safe Mode), or Airport, or some USB or Firewire device, or 3rd party add-on, Check System Preferences>Accounts (Users & Groups in later OSX versions)>Login Items window to see if it or something relevant is listed.
Check the System Preferences>Other Row, for 3rd party Pref Panes.
Also look in these if they exist, some are invisible...
/private/var/run/StartupItems
/Library/StartupItems
/System/Library/StartupItems
/System/Library/LaunchDaemons
/Library/LaunchDaemons -
How do I re-install my Mac OSX Server from scratch
Hi,
I have purchased two MacMini Servers with 10.6 OSX Server software pre-installed.
I have changed the organization as our company name changed and run into license issues.
I want to re-install the Mac OSX Server software and start from scratch. How do I go about this. I tried yesterday for many hours to do so and the new installs are still running into duplicate license issues and other issues. What is the best approach to do re-install? I am willing to erase the internal Hard Disk and boot (with an external DVD optical drive) if that is the best way to go. What are the steps?
I have the original CDs or DVDs and have extra, external hard disks to do a Time Machine backup, etc.
Thanks,
DonIf you are looking to do a nuke and pave of the system, and you have an external optical drive, then yes, that is likely the most direct method. Connect the optical drive, insert the installation DVD, and reboot the system targeting the optical disk as the boot volume (you can do this by holding down the C key or the Option key during startup).
Now, if you do not have an optical drive, you can put the installation disk into another Mac running 10.6 and use the Remote Install Mac OS X application in your Utilities folder.
Hope this helps -
While using Bootcamp 5.1, and OS X 10.8.2, I partitioned my Mac disk with 80 Gigs for Windows 7 home and the install went great, but I must have missed the time when I was to install the Mac drivers disk to install the drivers for Windows,(when in Windows I don't have a mouse or optical drive.) Is there a way to install the drivers after Windows is installed, or do I have to go through the whole process all over again?
Press X key after the startup sound to boot into OS X. Then, open Boot Camp Assistant, download Boot Camp drivers and burn them into a USB drive or DVD. Finally, boot in Windows and install drivers
-
I downloaded and installed the: Mac mini EFI Firmware Update 1.6 on my mac mini running 10.8.1, was I correct in doing this ?
I didn't see this update come up in "Software Update"
If I was not meant to install this update, would it cause ANY damage at all to my mac ( this is my second as I dropped the first )
If I were to re-install ML would this fix any errors that this may have caused ?
The bottom of the page I link to says:
Boot ROM or SMC Version Information: MM51.0077.10
But when I click on "About this Mac" it says:
Boot ROM Version: MM51.0077.B10
SMC Version (system): 1.75f0
What does the additional "B" mean?
My mac mini is the Mid 2011 Model.
I am sorry if I am sounding super paranoid about this, but I don't want to have caused any permanent damage.Hello,
It's somewhere between almost impossible & impossible to install the wrong EFI Update with all the checks it does!
Mac mini (Mid 2011) with Intel graphics
Macmini5,1
MM51.0077.B10 (EFI 1.6)
Mac mini (Mid 2011) with Radeon graphics
Macmini5,2
MM51.0077.B10 (EFI 1.6)
Mac mini Server (Mid 2011)
Macmini5,3
MM51.0077.B10 (EFI 1.6)
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1237
Not sure what the B means.
If I were to re-install ML would this fix any errors that this may have caused ?
No, Firmware is unaffected by any OS change or re-install.
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