Why you should use Apple’s Rapid Security Response

Mac, iPad, and iPhone users can choose to automatically install system security patches as they are released with a new Apple feature called Rapid Security Response.

Rapid Security Response aims to secure Apple’s platforms with automated security updates. The idea is that if every user automatically installs such patches, the entire ecosystem becomes inherently more secure.

Announced last year at WWDC 2022, Apple began testing the feature in October. During beta testing, it shared four content-free downloads to test its distribution system, including one recent test in March. While the feature can be enabled on devices running the latest operating system, as of this month Apple had not yet begun to ship genuine security patches.

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Jamf VP explains enterprise security threats — and how to mitigate them

Apple-focused device management and security vendor Jamf today published its Security 360: Annual Trends report, which reveals the five security tends impacting organizations running hybrid work environments. As it is every year, the report is interesting, so I spoke to Michael Covington, vice president of portfolio strategy, for more details about what the company found this year.

First, here’s a brief rundown of some of the salient points in the report:

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Hard-to-spot Mac crypto-mining threat, XMRig, hits Pirate Bay

A new family of Mac malware that spreads through pirated versions of Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, and other key creative apps has been identified by the Threat Labs team at Jamf.

The new XMRig threat is a subtle cryptocurrency mining attack that has evaded detection for months.

Piracy is bad karma, but good crypto

XMRig proliferates by attaching itself to pirated copies of creative applications, including versions of Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro X, and Adobe Photoshop. That’s the kind of “knock-off” Mac application you frequently find being distributed across peer to peer networks.

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How to use Apple’s advanced iCloud security tools

Apple recently rolled out new iCloud security features that could help protect mobile professionals when they’re on the road. The features include better iCloud data security, improved iMessage security, and more.

Here is how to use these new iCloud protections.

Secure your digital assets

No one should doubt that protecting personal or enterprise data has become more important than ever. Apple introduced Lockdown Mode for iCloud in 2022, following this up with even more protections in December and, most recently, introducing free privacy and security sessions in Apple retail stores in 2023.

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Qualys now supports macOS in its cloud security tools

Qualys, sometimes described as one of the pioneering SaaS vendors, has bent with the times to begin offering Mac support within its cloud security offering.

A pioneer in SaaS goes Mac

Since it launched in 1999, Qualys has traditionally offered its services to PCs, mobile devices, and cloud-native applications. The company’s original 2000 product, QualysGuard, was distinguished as one of the first to market vulnerability management tools.

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Microsoft doc details the dos and don’ts of Mac ransomware <u>

As enterprise adoption of the Apple platform accelerates, it’s important to note that Macs can and sometimes do get hit by ransomware. So it’s good to stay tuned to security concerns on a platform and application level — and take precautions.

Knowledge is power

With this in mind, extensive insights into Mac ransomware recently published only to be subsequently removed by Microsoft, can help explain these threats. The impact of such attack can be huge – ransomware already costs victims hundreds of billions each year, and no one is immune. 

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