MacFormat UK – September 2019

macformat.com @macformat

MACBOOK

PRO RECALL

8 | MACFORMAT | SEPTEMBER 2019 macformat.com @macformat

T

here is a flaw in

Gatekeeper in

macOS that is

reportedly being exploited

to deliver malware.

Gatekeeper, introduced

in OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion,

protects your Mac from

malware and rogue apps.

When you install apps,

plug-ins and installers from

outside the Mac App Store,

it checks they’re from an

identified developer and have

not been altered. It also looks

for known malware.

In May, however, security

researcher Filippo Cavallarin

disclosed a security hole: if

your Mac automounts a

shared volume, this is

treated differently from an

internet download. In certain

circumstances, he found, a

’symlink’ (like an alias) to an

app hosted on a remote NFS

server will not be checked.

In June, antivirus

company Intego reported it

had found the first known

attempt to exploit this

vulnerability, which it named

OSX/Linker. It concluded that

this was a test, but warns

Mac users to be alert, install

an antivirus, and at least

avoid downloads from

unknown sources.

You could disable

automount, but you’d then

have to manually mount and

dismount external drives

each time you use them.

Apple has yet to confirm

it’s patched the flaw, but it

would be wise to install

macOS updates promptly.

Disguised downloads a security risk

A

pple is said to be bringing more of

its iOS apps – notably Shortcuts

• to the Mac in macOS Catalina
  thanks to Project Catalyst.
  Apple’s toolkit for developers to convert
  iOS apps to macOS was formally introduced
  at WWDC. Part of Xcode 11, it automatically
  recompiles an iOS app’s source code for
  macOS. “Fundamental Mac desktop and
  windowing features are added, and touch
  controls are adapted to the keyboard and
  mouse,” Apple’s documentation explains,
  although further work may be required “to
  optimise the design and user experience”
  of iOS apps for Mac.
  Apple is leading the way with upgraded
  conversions of the iOS News, Stocks, Voice
  Memos and Home apps, the macOS Mojave
  versions of which were criticised but will be
  improved for macOS Catalina.
  What’s more, a developer has found
  evidence in the early betas of Catalina that
  Apple is working on ports of other apps.
  AppleInsider reports: “Code discovered by

developer Steven Troughton-Smith points to

Catalyst versions of Messages and Shortcuts.”

It is not clear exactly how a port of the

iOS Messages app would improve on the

macOS app. But Shortcuts, currently limited

to iOS 12 devices, makes it possible to trigger

a wide range of functions in native and

third-party apps simply by saying “Hey Siri”

and a custom phrase you’ve set. It could be

brilliant on the Mac too.

iOS Messages and Siri Shortcuts in the works for macOS Catalina?

Apple has recalled

some 15-inch MacBook

Pro models because

the batteries might

overheat and pose a fire

risk. The recall applies

to the Mid 2015

MacBook Pro with

15-inch Retina screen,

available September

2015 to February 2017.

Apple will replace the

batteries in affected

machines, free of

charge. Go to bit.ly/

mfmbpbattrec.

Apple has reportedly

identified an issue with

“a very small number”

of 13-inch 2018 Retina

MacBook Airs. A flaw in

the main logic board

may cause unspecified

power problems. Apple

has not listed the issue

on its Repair Extension

Programs webpage,

but this is normal for

issues that affect very

few units. Apple is

contacting owners of

affected machines for

a free logic board

replacement.

APPLE

NEWS

ROUNDUP

BATTERY ISSUE

FOR SOME 2015

MACBOOK PROS

MACBOOK

AIR ISSUE

APPLE TO SORT

LOGIC BOARD

REPLACEMENTS

Gatekeeper flaw

lets malware in?

More iOS apps coming to Mac

A flaw in Gatekeeper means potential

vulnerability to malicious software.

As well as many other iOS-based apps, it looks like

Shortcuts could be coming to Mac with macOS Catalina.