March 2025
Is there built in virus protection on the mac?
26/03/25 Filed in: viruses
My computer started doing some really wacky things last night and I’m concerned there might be a virus. Can you tell me what the built-in software virus program is so I can make sure that it’s made it run?
___________
There is a hidden process on the Mac called Gatekeeper. It authenticates any additional software a person adds and requests your password before it can be installed. It is not a program you can open and run yourself. Its part of the OS. Virus protection does not work. The flaw in the Mac is the human. If the human puts their password in at the wrong time, that gives the computer permission to install something. Virus protection does not prevent that.
___________
There is a hidden process on the Mac called Gatekeeper. It authenticates any additional software a person adds and requests your password before it can be installed. It is not a program you can open and run yourself. Its part of the OS. Virus protection does not work. The flaw in the Mac is the human. If the human puts their password in at the wrong time, that gives the computer permission to install something. Virus protection does not prevent that.
How do I sync text messages across my devices
How do I sync iPad texts to Mac & phone texts?
___________
First, make sure you're logged into your AppleID on all devices. Next, on the phone and iPad go to settings, on the computer you'll be going to settings within the Messages application itself.
Once in settings on the phone and iPad, scroll to the bottom and select "all apps". Next scroll down to the m's and find messages. Now that you're in the settings area for messages you can check to be sure of the following:
1. You are using your AppleID for iMessage and iMessage is turned on on both devices.
2. You have both your phone number checked as well as your email address in receive but only the phone number checked on outgoing messages.
Repeat the process on the computer by opening the messages application, go to settings within the application and compare the same settings. If you see a box that says "Enable messages in the cloud" be sure that's checked as well.
___________
First, make sure you're logged into your AppleID on all devices. Next, on the phone and iPad go to settings, on the computer you'll be going to settings within the Messages application itself.
Once in settings on the phone and iPad, scroll to the bottom and select "all apps". Next scroll down to the m's and find messages. Now that you're in the settings area for messages you can check to be sure of the following:
1. You are using your AppleID for iMessage and iMessage is turned on on both devices.
2. You have both your phone number checked as well as your email address in receive but only the phone number checked on outgoing messages.
Repeat the process on the computer by opening the messages application, go to settings within the application and compare the same settings. If you see a box that says "Enable messages in the cloud" be sure that's checked as well.
My junk filtering is too strong
18/03/25 Filed in: junk mail filtering | spam
I do not know why all the sudden so much of my legitimate email is going to junk. If you have any idea of how to handle this, please let me know.
___________
If you find that email is moving into junk more often than you’d like then you may decide to take the (sort of) drastic step of resetting your junk mail filtering.
I call that drastic as you may open the flood gates a bit since you’ll be telling the computer, forget all the times I ever said something was junk. Junk filtering happens at two places. On the email server before it gets to you, then again in your email client. In this case, the application called “Mail”. You may also want to check the other settings in the Junk settings panel as seen above to make sure you aren’t being to restrictive before using the reset option.
___________
If you find that email is moving into junk more often than you’d like then you may decide to take the (sort of) drastic step of resetting your junk mail filtering.
I call that drastic as you may open the flood gates a bit since you’ll be telling the computer, forget all the times I ever said something was junk. Junk filtering happens at two places. On the email server before it gets to you, then again in your email client. In this case, the application called “Mail”. You may also want to check the other settings in the Junk settings panel as seen above to make sure you aren’t being to restrictive before using the reset option.
I'm getting to much junk
18/03/25 Filed in: junk mail filtering | spam
I used to never get spam in my inbox. It has somehow now gotten through and I’d like to know if it’s okay to hit the Unsubscribe button or is it phishing, hoping I’ll hit it and then they somehow get into my computer?
___________
Junk or spam is a never ending battle. There are many methods to try to fight it. Using the "unsubscribe" at the BOTTOM of the email is not always the best way. Legally every company within the US is required to provide an unsubscribe button but that rule also allows for companies to automatically subscribe you to other services. Dirty practice.
So on to the next option. You may see an unsubscribe button on the top right corner of some emails. Not all. This one is safer to use as it puts Apple in the middle and doesn't allow you to have direct contact with that company. Better.
Next method: Use the junk button. I use Junk every single day. It takes a long time but selecting an email and hitting junk will eventually weed out garbage. It's safer than unsubscribing. Problem with this method is that junking something only junks that one specific exact email. This means the company can still send you emails using a different spelling of an email. Like 3kdlse@company.com instead of kd45l@company.com.
Last method: If all else fails you can always create a rule that says something like: if email contains the word "politic" then delete it. That can be found in Mail settings. Warning however, the broader you make a rule the better chance there is of it deleting something you didn't really want deleted.
___________
Junk or spam is a never ending battle. There are many methods to try to fight it. Using the "unsubscribe" at the BOTTOM of the email is not always the best way. Legally every company within the US is required to provide an unsubscribe button but that rule also allows for companies to automatically subscribe you to other services. Dirty practice.
So on to the next option. You may see an unsubscribe button on the top right corner of some emails. Not all. This one is safer to use as it puts Apple in the middle and doesn't allow you to have direct contact with that company. Better.
Next method: Use the junk button. I use Junk every single day. It takes a long time but selecting an email and hitting junk will eventually weed out garbage. It's safer than unsubscribing. Problem with this method is that junking something only junks that one specific exact email. This means the company can still send you emails using a different spelling of an email. Like 3kdlse@company.com instead of kd45l@company.com.
Last method: If all else fails you can always create a rule that says something like: if email contains the word "politic" then delete it. That can be found in Mail settings. Warning however, the broader you make a rule the better chance there is of it deleting something you didn't really want deleted.
Keynote on dual monitors during Zoom
11/03/25 Filed in: zoom
My dissertation defense is tomorrow on Zoom, which includes a slideshow presentation. I realized that if I connect my laptop to my monitor, which allows me to see everything better, my slides don’t always advance properly, especially the ones that use the “appear” animation function within slides (on Keynote). Can you think of a solution? It’s not a do or die situation, but would definitely enhance my experience if I could get that to work.
___________
First thing I would consider is which display the slide show presents on. Check if you are mirroring both monitors or do you have separate monitor set ups. You can try a few variations of monitor set ups.
Closing the laptop and only using a bigger monitor
Keeping the laptop open and just having the exact same screen on both (yuck)
Keeping the laptop open and having double the screen space (Yay!)
So then playing the slideshow on a different monitor may produce different results. Keep in mind that when using Zoom with multiple monitors, you need to let Zoom know if you are sharing only the left one, only the right one, or both. Sharing both monitors via Zoom results in the viewers seeing a way smaller space however.
Hope that helps. And of course you may want to practice switching zoom sharing between monitors. Good luck. Defend!!!
___________
First thing I would consider is which display the slide show presents on. Check if you are mirroring both monitors or do you have separate monitor set ups. You can try a few variations of monitor set ups.
Closing the laptop and only using a bigger monitor
Keeping the laptop open and just having the exact same screen on both (yuck)
Keeping the laptop open and having double the screen space (Yay!)
So then playing the slideshow on a different monitor may produce different results. Keep in mind that when using Zoom with multiple monitors, you need to let Zoom know if you are sharing only the left one, only the right one, or both. Sharing both monitors via Zoom results in the viewers seeing a way smaller space however.
Hope that helps. And of course you may want to practice switching zoom sharing between monitors. Good luck. Defend!!!
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