GENIUS TIPS Mac software
Mac software
Resolving riddles and restrictions with
what you want to run on your Mac
Mac software
quick-fire
questions60 | MACFORMAT | JUNE 2019 macformat.com @macformatAre there audio CD
‘rippers’ for Macs?
> There’s one in iTunes.
You’ll need to add an
external optical drive
to modern Macs too, of
course. iTunes can look
up track details for you,
although some CDs may
not be listed and so
require manual tagging.
Alternatives like Max
(sbooth.org) are sadly
falling by the wayside,
and look set to die with
the end of 32-bit apps.How can I repair an
unopenable PDF?
> As far as we know,
only online services
such as bit.ly/mfpdfrep
are available, which
require you to upload
the PDF. Does it contain
private info? Some paid-
for apps like PDFpenPro
will try to recover what
they can, but specialist
tools seem only to be
available on Windows.
Readers, have you
used one on macOS?Reputable third-party protection such as
Malwarebytes (malwarebytes.com/mac),
Sqwarq’s DetectX (sqwarq.com/detectx) and
Sophos products (sophos.com) add a valuable
additional layer, provided they and their data
files are kept up to date, which often requires
you to take out a support subscription.
Anti-malware products from the Mac App
Store are unlikely to do the job thoroughly,
given strict limits imposed on apps sold there.
Those provide good general cover for
normal use. Ancillary and specialist tools are
also worth considering if your daughter is
likely to be at particular risk – needing to visit
high-risk websites overseas as part of studies,
say. Objective-See’s (bit.ly/mfobjsee) free tools
may help, handling ransomware, seemingly
innocent apps that phone home, and more.Does my Mac need extra protection?
The Mac App Store’s rules impose
limits that prevent anti-malware apps
sold there being totally effective.Q
I’ve just bought my daughter a
new MacBook Air. Does she need
antivirus protection beyond what’s
built in to in macOS?
by DAN BAILEYA
She would probably be wise to have
some, but the most important initial
step is performing a risk assessment,
however informal. What will her Mac be used
for? What will she browse? Is she likely to fall
prey to phishing attacks? Will she only use
apps from the Mac App Store, or elsewhere?
macOS Mojave includes basic protection
against malware, but it may be insufficient
for someone who’ll use apps from outside
the store, or inadvertently open a malicious
link on a website or in an email.