Month: October 2022

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Apple updates, October 24, 2022

by straitmacvp3 Comments on Apple updates, October 24, 2022

Apple issued a huge number of security updates and operating system releases on Monday, October 24. Not only were they big in terms of coverage, they were physically large, too. The updates:

Safari 16.1

You need not worry about this separately; it is usually bundled with the macOS, iOS, and iPadOS updates. What was updated: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213495

tvOS 16.1

Obviously, you don’t need to worry about this unless you have an Apple TV. But given the recent announcements on the new models, you really should think about getting one. What was updated: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213492

watchOS 9.1

This is another thing that most people don’t have but should: an Apple Watch. Costco now has these on display. What was updated: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213491

macOS Big Sur 11.7.1

It is rare for Apple to update an operating system this old. The updates are for vulnerabilities deep in Big Sur. What was updated: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213493

macOS Monterey 12.6.1

This may well be the last update of macOS Monterey. If you can update to macOS Ventura, please do so. What was updated: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213494

iOS 16.1 and iPadOS 16.1

These really are two different operating systems, though closely related. This is also the first release of iPadOS 16, despite the decimal appendage. The list of things updated is long. What was updated: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213489

macOS Ventura 13

This is the crown jewel of today’s releases: macOS Ventura. Along with iPadOS 16.1, these two releases bring the biggest number of changes to the Apple world, including some significant new features. If you can upgrade to Ventura, you are urged to do so, sooner rather than later. The list of updates and security fixes is long. Very long. Like, 19 pages long. What was updated: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213488

We will talk about these at the November SMUG meeting. Just to give you a hint of how different Ventura is, this is a partial screen shot of System Settings in Ventura:

System Settings in macOS Ventura. It is a long, scrolling list, instead of rows of icons.
System Settings in macOS Ventura (partial)
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Questions and Answers

by straitmacvp

For our October meeting, we had no planned program, but instead an extended Question and Answer (Q&A) session on almost anything concerning Macs, iPhones, iPads, Apple TV, etc. And we recorded it:

For a larger view, click on the YouTube logo.

URLs of items mentioned in the meeting:

Take Control Books: https://www.takecontrolbooks.com/

A discount code for Take Control Books is posted on the Discussion Boards.

Google begs Apple to change Messages: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/08/new-google-site-begs-apple-for-mercy-in-messaging-war/

Good luck with that.

Guide to Apple TV+: https://9to5mac.com/2022/10/14/apple-tv-plus-tv-shows-movies-guide/

This is exceptional: short, capsule summaries of the series or movies, complete with a video clip or trailer.

Use your iPhone as a white noise generator: https://www.theverge.com/23131327/how-to-iphone-white-noise-background-sounds-ios-15

Hidden in plain sight.

Notes from the meeting will follow.

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Apple issues critical update, iOS 16.0.3

by straitmacvp

This update is for all iPhones since the iPhone 8 up to the present iPhone 14 series. You should update immediately.

Translated into English: some bad guys figured out how to disable your iPhone through a “maliciously crafted email message,” which means that someone found a way to mess up your iPhone by sending an email message that triggered your iPhone into wasting time on nonsense, and not doing what you wanted. A “denial-of-service attack” is a type of computer device attack that basically has your computer, or phone in this case, stop doing useful things as the computer is constantly distracted into doing useless things. It is the equivalent of someone coming and ringing your doorbell all the time, forcing you to check the door and — there isn’t anyone there.

Update immediately. And if you have an iPhone 8 or later and are not running iOS 16, you should do so immediately.

Apple’s update notice:

APPLE-SA-2022-10-10-1 iOS 16.0.3

iOS 16.0.3 addresses the following issues.
Information about the security content is also available at
https://support.apple.com/HT213480.

Mail
Available for: iPhone 8 and later
Impact: Processing a maliciously crafted email message may lead to a
denial-of-service
Description: An input validation issue was addressed with improved
input validation.
CVE-2022-22658

This update is available through iTunes and Software Update on your
iOS device, and will not appear in your computer's Software Update
application, or in the Apple Downloads site. Make sure you have an
Internet connection and have installed the latest version of iTunes
from https://www.apple.com/itunes/  iTunes and Software Update on the
device will automatically check Apple's update server on its weekly
schedule. When an update is detected, it is downloaded and the option
to be installed is presented to the user when the iOS device is
docked. We recommend applying the update immediately if possible.
Selecting Don't Install will present the option the next time you
connect your iOS device.  The automatic update process may take up to
a week depending on the day that iTunes or the device checks for
updates. You may manually obtain the update via the Check for Updates
button within iTunes, or the Software Update on your device.  To
check that the iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad has been updated:  *
Navigate to Settings * Select General * Select About. The version
after applying this update will be "iOS 16.0.3".
All information is also posted on the Apple Security Updates
web site: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201222.