January 2019

A newly discovered bug with the current iOS software (12.1.x) allows incoming FaceTime callers to listen in on the person their calling prior to the call being picked up. Apple is expected to release a software update this week to correct the bug. Until the update, you can disable FaceTime to prevent this bug. Here’s both how to exploit it and how to fix it according to 9to5Mac .

Here’s how to do the iPhone FaceTime bug:

• Start a FaceTime Video call with an iPhone contact.
• Whilst the call is dialling, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and tap Add Person.
• Add your own phone number in the Add Person screen.
• You will then start a group FaceTime call including yourself and the audio of the person you originally called, even if they haven’t accepted the call yet.

It will look like in the UI like the other person has joined the group chat, but on their actual device it will still be ringing on the Lock screen.

Here’s a how-to turn off FaceTime until the update is released thanks to 9to5Mac.

How to turn off FaceTime on iPhone or iPad

To disable the feature on your iPhone and iPad, do the following:

1. Open the Settings application
2. Scroll down and look for the FaceTime icon
3. Switch the toggle to gray

How to disable FaceTime on your Mac

To disable Face on your Mac, following the below steps:

1. Open the FaceTime app on your Mac
2. Click “FaceTime” in the Menu bar
3. Click “Turn off FaceTime”

Phishing attacks are on the rise. So many of us get messages that look like they are from legitimate sources, such as Dropbox or Gmail, asking to rest passwords or trying to get us to update account information. This makes it tough to figure out what’s real and what’s not.

While we can always apply another tool to weed out these fake messages, the best prevention is education. If you have an email address, you’d better get smart about the ways you can be fooled by scammers.

1. Check the following links – Often times, an email link may look like it’s going to Dropbox.com when really it’s not! Don’t get fooled by long links. Learn to spot the top-level domains in a follow link to determine it’s legitimacy.
2. Don’t open attachments from unknown senders. Even if it’s someone you correspond with regularly, double check the email address to ensure it’s not malformed or spoofed.
3. Just because it looks legit, doesn’t mean it is. While your bank may send out a notice that your statement is ready, don’t follow the links. Just open your browser and go directly to the bank’s website. This will ensure your credentials remain between you and your bank.
4. Run anti-virus with web protection. Yes, even if you have a mac, the time has come for everyone to have some layer of protection for their computer.

Don’t spend sleepless nights worrying about your computer security. Marin Mac Tech is here to help protect your computer from the ever-changing landscape of cyber threats.