Improve Activity Monitor Reporting Speed in OS X with Update Frequency osxdailynews.blogspot.com

osxdailynews.blogspot.com ® Improve Activity Monitor Reporting Speed in OS X with Update Frequency

Many advanced Mac users have noticed that Activity Monitor appears slower these days when the app is updating CPU, Memory, Disk, Energy, and Network data, with the monitoring app apparently no longer offering real-time system resource statistics. Instead, Activity Monitor now defaults to offering a general aggregate of system use that feels relatively delayed. Well it’s not in your head and it doesn’t just feel delayed, it actually is delayed, as the new standard setting for Activity Monitor no longer updates system stats and usage every second or two, it waits a full five second before updating the app. While this provides a broader average of performance and resource usage, it may be inadequate for many advanced users who are accustomed to a more responsive task manager. For those who prefer to have more real-time resource data on their Macs, you can adjust the change interval back to the more aggressive reporting speed that existed prior to the change that arrived with OS X Mavericks.

Adjusting the “update frequency” setting not only impacts how fast process activity changes in the primary Activity Monitor window, but it also adjusts the speed of updates shown in the CPU usage indicator for the apps Dock icon.

1. Open “Activity Monitor”, found within the /Applications/Utilities/ folder or through Launchpad


2. Pull down the “View” menu and go to “Update Frequency”


3. Select the desired update frequency setting out of the three choices:
   
   
   
   • Very often (1 second) – aggressive, practically real time task and process observation and management
   
   
   • Often (2 seconds) – a reasonable middle setting that is significantly more responsive than the default 5 second setting, while not as aggressive or taxing as the real time resource updates
   
   
   • Normally (5 seconds) – this is the new default choice, it may feel too slow for power users who are accustomed to immediate response from activity monitor and process management
   
   
   
   

Power users will almost certainly want to use the “Very often” option for maximum responsiveness, though the “Often” option is reasonable as well. If you’re using the Activity Monitor to troubleshoot errant processes or weird behavior, the faster the update frequency the better, whereas if you use Activity Monitor primarily as a means of casually observing CPU stats from the apps Dock icon to determine appropriate system behavior, then you may find the 2 second or 5 second options to be tolerable.

Somewhat ironically, Activity Monitor itself can also impact performance to a limited extent by aggressively monitoring system resource usage, perhaps why Apple chose the more averaged “5 second” option as the new default for OS X. For most purposes though, the hit from running Activity Monitor is minimal at beset, and most users won’t notice any meaningful degradation to performance or battery life by changing the update frequency setting. If you’re concerned about that, keeping the setting at “Normal (5 seconds)” for general Activity Monitor usage and selectively changing it to the “1 second” choice for troubleshooting, force quitting errant apps and processes, or general task management is entirely reasonable.

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How to Jailbreak iOS 7.0.6 with Evasi0n osxdailynews.blogspot.com

osxdailynews.blogspot.com ® How to Jailbreak iOS 7.0.6 with Evasi0n

The popular Evasi0n utility has been updated to support jailbreaking iOS 7.0.6. Though iOS 7.0.6 is a minor version change to iOS, it includes an important security fix that prevents potential man-in-the-middle attacks and/or data interception from occurring, thus it is highly recommended for all users to install as soon as possible, including those who jailbreak their iPhones and iPads.

Using the updated Evasion tool is basically the same as before, but individuals who are currently jailbroken on a prior version of iOS should take a few additional steps before attempting to run it with their devices. Additionally, users who updated to iOS 7.0.6 via the Software Update mechanism on their devices will need to perform a fresh install before being able to complete a successful jailbreak. Whichever the situation, grab the appropriate version of Evasi0n for Mac or Windows below, and then follow the simple procedure outlined to successfully jailbreak a 7.0.6 device.

1: Download Evasi0n for iOS 7.0.6

The Evasi0n7 utility with 7.0.6 support is officially versioned as 1.0.6, grab the appropriate link below:

Once you have the evasi0n utility, you may need to reinstall iOS 7.0.6 on the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch as outlined below before proceeding further.

2: Jailbreaking iOS 7.0.6 Successfully

Devices must be updated with iTunes, not OTA, to prevent failure with the new evasion tool. This is easy to do, even if you’re already running 7.0.6:

1. Back up the iPhone / iPad to a Mac or PC through iTunes


2. Update to iOS 7.0.6 through iTunes
   
   
   
   • Important: if the device is already on iOS 7.0.6 as updated through OTA, perform a fresh install of iOS 7.0.6 with iTunes by using the “Restore” function
   
   
   
   


3. Optionally but likely desirable, restore from the recently made backup now that the device has been updated to the latest version of iOS


4. Now run the newly downloaded evasi0n utility to complete the jailbreak as usual

Though there are mixed reports of successful jailbreaking after installing the iOS 7.0.6 through OTA update, there are many more reported problems occurring. Thus, it is recommended to follow the steps outlined above, as it should prevent any potential issues from occurring during the jailbreak process.

If the jailbreak fails or the device gets stuck on the Apple logo during the process, the device was likely updated through OTA rather than a fresh install from iTunes. If that is the case, just restore from iTunes to get started again properly.

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How to Jailbreak iOS 7.0.6 with Evasi0n osxdailynews.blogspot.com

osxdailynews.blogspot.com ® How to Jailbreak iOS 7.0.6 with Evasi0n

The popular Evasi0n utility has been updated to support jailbreaking iOS 7.0.6. Though iOS 7.0.6 is a minor version change to iOS, it includes an important security fix that prevents potential man-in-the-middle attacks and/or data interception from occurring, thus it is highly recommended for all users to install as soon as possible, including those who jailbreak their iPhones and iPads.

Using the updated Evasion tool is basically the same as before, but individuals who are currently jailbroken on a prior version of iOS should take a few additional steps before attempting to run it with their devices. Additionally, users who updated to iOS 7.0.6 via the Software Update mechanism on their devices will need to perform a fresh install before being able to complete a successful jailbreak. Whichever the situation, grab the appropriate version of Evasi0n for Mac or Windows below, and then follow the simple procedure outlined to successfully jailbreak a 7.0.6 device.

1: Download Evasi0n for iOS 7.0.6

The Evasi0n7 utility with 7.0.6 support is officially versioned as 1.0.6, grab the appropriate link below:

Once you have the evasi0n utility, you may need to reinstall iOS 7.0.6 on the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch as outlined below before proceeding further.

2: Jailbreaking iOS 7.0.6 Successfully

Devices must be updated with iTunes, not OTA, to prevent failure with the new evasion tool. This is easy to do, even if you’re already running 7.0.6:

1. Back up the iPhone / iPad to a Mac or PC through iTunes


2. Update to iOS 7.0.6 through iTunes
   
   
   
   • Important: if the device is already on iOS 7.0.6 as updated through OTA, perform a fresh install of iOS 7.0.6 with iTunes by using the “Restore” function
   
   
   
   


3. Optionally but likely desirable, restore from the recently made backup now that the device has been updated to the latest version of iOS


4. Now run the newly downloaded evasi0n utility to complete the jailbreak as usual

Though there are mixed reports of successful jailbreaking after installing the iOS 7.0.6 through OTA update, there are many more reported problems occurring. Thus, it is recommended to follow the steps outlined above, as it should prevent any potential issues from occurring during the jailbreak process.

If the jailbreak fails or the device gets stuck on the Apple logo during the process, the device was likely updated through OTA rather than a fresh install from iTunes. If that is the case, just restore from iTunes to get started again properly.

Email this How to Jailbreak iOS 7.0.6 with Evasi0n to a Friend! Receive Articles like this one direct to your email box! Subscribe for free today!

How to Jailbreak iOS 7.0.6 with Evasi0n osxdailynews.blogspot.com

osxdailynews.blogspot.com ® How to Jailbreak iOS 7.0.6 with Evasi0n

The popular Evasi0n utility has been updated to support jailbreaking iOS 7.0.6. Though iOS 7.0.6 is a minor version change to iOS, it includes an important security fix that prevents potential man-in-the-middle attacks and/or data interception from occurring, thus it is highly recommended for all users to install as soon as possible, including those who jailbreak their iPhones and iPads.

Using the updated Evasion tool is basically the same as before, but individuals who are currently jailbroken on a prior version of iOS should take a few additional steps before attempting to run it with their devices. Additionally, users who updated to iOS 7.0.6 via the Software Update mechanism on their devices will need to perform a fresh install before being able to complete a successful jailbreak. Whichever the situation, grab the appropriate version of Evasi0n for Mac or Windows below, and then follow the simple procedure outlined to successfully jailbreak a 7.0.6 device.

1: Download Evasi0n for iOS 7.0.6

The Evasi0n7 utility with 7.0.6 support is officially versioned as 1.0.6, grab the appropriate link below:

Once you have the evasi0n utility, you may need to reinstall iOS 7.0.6 on the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch as outlined below before proceeding further.

2: Jailbreaking iOS 7.0.6 Successfully

Devices must be updated with iTunes, not OTA, to prevent failure with the new evasion tool. This is easy to do, even if you’re already running 7.0.6:

1. Back up the iPhone / iPad to a Mac or PC through iTunes


2. Update to iOS 7.0.6 through iTunes
   
   
   
   • Important: if the device is already on iOS 7.0.6 as updated through OTA, perform a fresh install of iOS 7.0.6 with iTunes by using the “Restore” function
   
   
   
   


3. Optionally but likely desirable, restore from the recently made backup now that the device has been updated to the latest version of iOS


4. Now run the newly downloaded evasi0n utility to complete the jailbreak as usual

Though there are mixed reports of successful jailbreaking after installing the iOS 7.0.6 through OTA update, there are many more reported problems occurring. Thus, it is recommended to follow the steps outlined above, as it should prevent any potential issues from occurring during the jailbreak process.

If the jailbreak fails or the device gets stuck on the Apple logo during the process, the device was likely updated through OTA rather than a fresh install from iTunes. If that is the case, just restore from iTunes to get started again properly.

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Help Protect a Mac from the SSL / TLS Security Bug (Until a Fix Arrives) osxdailynews.blogspot.com

osxdailynews.blogspot.com ® Help Protect a Mac from the SSL / TLS Security Bug (Until a Fix Arrives)

Apple recently released iOS 7.0.6 with an important security update for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch users – if you have an iOS device, you should install that update right away. Though the 7.0.6 bug fix description was initially vague, further information we’ll detail below points to just how potentially serious the security issue is (or was) – basically, someone could intercept your data given the proper circumstances – and while the problem has been patched on the iOS side, the same security flaw exists for OS X for the time being.

Yes, Apple will likely push a bug fix to Mac users in the near future, and all Mac users should install that update right away when it arrives. Until then, you can take some simple precautions to help protect yourself and your Mac from harm. Though this is general advice focused on helping to prevent trouble from the active OS X SSL/TLS security bug, these simple tips are actually good basic network security protocol to follow in general. Advanced users will probably already know what to do (or rather, what not to do), but if you’re unfamiliar with good network practice then you may learn something new.

3 Easy Tips to Help Protect a Mac from the SSL / TLS Security Flaw

1. Avoid all untrusted networks – that mysterious open wi-fi router that you sometimes connect to when your internet is slow because your brother/mom/roommate is streaming Netflix? Don’t connect to it. The router that doesn’t ask for a password at the local coffee shop? Avoid it. Connect to trusted and secured networks only, whether they’re at work, school, or home. It can’t be said enough; do not join any untrusted wireless networks until the machine has been patched.


2. Check your web browser with GoToFail to determine if the browser itself is vulnerable – if it is found to be vulnerable, consider temporarily using another updated web browser until the flaw has been patched (the latest versions of Chrome and Firefox are reportedly fine for now)


3. Be sure the trusted wi-fi network uses WPA2 security active – this means it requires a password when connecting to the router, though you will still want to double-check the network is using WPA2. While this alone is not a guarantee of protection or security, it does lower the likelihood that a nefarious character is on the network. Wide open password-free networks are like the wild west and anything goes, avoid them. For those with their own wi-fi routers, remember that WEP is outdated and insecure, always use WPA2 security for wi-fi passwords.

While using a different browser and protected network is better than nothing, the importance of being on a protected network (and patching your devices when possible) can not be emphasized enough. To better understand why, a theoretical attack using the SSL/TLS vulnerability is described by CrowdStrike as follows:

“To pull off the attack an adversary has to be able to Man-in-The-Middle (MitM) network connections, which can be done if they are present on the same wired or wireless network as the victim. Due to a flaw in authentication logic on iOS and OS X platforms, an attacker can bypass SSL/TLS verification routines upon the initial connection handshake. This enables an adversary to masquerade as coming from a trusted remote endpoint, such as your favorite webmail provider and perform full interception of encrypted traffic between you and the destination server, as well as give them a capability to modify the data in flight (such as deliver exploits to take control of your system).”

To put it simply, an attacker could use this flaw to intercept data, like email, passwords, banking information, communications, basically anything, if the attacker is on the same network as you, or is otherwise able to get between your computer and a remote server. This is why it is so important to avoid untrusted networks, it greatly mitigates risk.

Those interested can read additional technical information about the bug at ImperialViolet, and some more simplified details at Wired.

So, let’s summarize: iOS devices should update to iOS 7.0.6 or iOS 6.1.6 NOW, using a trusted network. iOS users should actively forget wi-fi networks they do not trust. No user of any device should join untrusted networks until they install the appropriate patch, and are probably better off avoiding untrusted networks in general. All Mac users should install the appropriate security update for OS X right away when it has been released (yes, we’ll post about it when it’s out). It’s not a guarantee, but by following that advice, you’re certainly better off than not.

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iOS 7.0.6 Released with Security Fix for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch osxdailynews.blogspot.com

osxdailynews.blogspot.com ® iOS 7.0.6 Released with Security Fix for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

Apple has released a small update for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, versioned as iOS 7.0.6 with a build number of 11b651. The security update notably includes a fix for SSL connection verification and weighs in between 13MB and 36MB, depending on the iOS device being installed upon.

The initial release notes bundled with the iOS 7.0.6 update are very brief, stating simply “This security update provides a fix for SSL connection verification.” Apple elaborates a bit further on their knowledge base article, providing the following details for what the update resolves:

"Impact: An attacker with a privileged network position may capture or modify data in sessions protected by SSL/TLS

Description: Secure Transport failed to validate the authenticity of the connection. This issue was addressed by restoring missing validation steps."

It is possible some other minor bug and security fixes are included in the release, though due to the small size of the download users should not expect much.

Downloading iOS 7.0.6

The easiest way to download iOS 7.0.6 is through the Over-The-Air update mechanism, accessible through the Settings app > Software Update. Choose “Download and Install” and agree to the terms and conditions to start the update process. Despite being a minor update, it can take a while to install as the ‘verifying update’ process lingers for a while on the home screen, before rebooting to the Apple logo where the actual firmware update occurs. Users can also choose to update through iTunes.

It is always advisable to back up iOS devices before updating system software, even with small releases like this.

iOS 7.0.6 IPSW Direct Download Links

Users who prefer to use .IPSW firmware files to update devices manually can choose to download the complete update directly from Apple’s servers using the links below:

In addition to iOS 7.0.6, Apple also released iOS 6.1.6, which includes the same security fix, for iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch 4th generation devices that are not able to run iOS 7. The build number for iOS 6.1.6 is 10b500. An update to Apple TV, versioned as 6.0.2, is also available.

A more sizable update is expected to arrive in the coming weeks with the iOS 7.1 public release, which is currently in beta.

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How to Batch Convert DOCX Files to TXT Format with textutil in OS X osxdailynews.blogspot.com

osxdailynews.blogspot.com ® How to Batch Convert DOCX Files to TXT Format with textutil in OS X

The Mac includes a fantastic command line tool called textutil which allows for quick text file format conversions, translating almost any text or word document type into another. We’ve discussed textutil for a variety of uses, but typically it has been for one-off conversions of a specific file into a new file type. This time around we’ll focus on batch converting a group of files that are in the common Microsoft Office “DOCX” format, which is basically a compressed XML version of a classic Office DOC file, into a simple TXT or RTF file format, which has greater compatibility.

Because textutil is a command line tool, users should be somewhat comfortable using the terminal before diving in, this is reflected in the first examples shown for those who know the command line well enough. If you’re new, though we will try to make it easy enough that almost anyone at any skill level with OS X should be able to follow along.

Batch Converting DOCX to TXT / RTF with textutil

For those who are adept at using the command line, the syntax necessary for batch docx to txt or rtf file conversion is as follows:

Convert DOCX to TXT:

textutil -convert txt /path/to/DOCX/files/*.docx

Convert .docx to .rtf :

textutil -convert rtf /path/to/docx/files/*.docx

The “-convert txt” or “-convert rtf” flag tells textutil to convert the files into the given format, and the rest of the command string is simply a path to the files in question. Then, a wildcard * is used with the .docx file extension to tell textutil to convert everything in that specified directory.

The freshly converted rtf or txt files will appear in the same directory as the original .docx files, the original dock files will not be overwritten or modified. That’s it, you’re all done. Obviously the txt file format is more universally readable than rtf, but RTF files maintain some formatting better than txt. Use whichever is necessary, or depending on the complexity of the docx files in question.

Batch Converting DOCX to TXT for Mac Terminal Newbies

If the above was over your head, don’t worry, you can make the process a bit easier by using a combination of the Finder and the Terminal, thanks to the print full path trick:

1. Navigate in the Finder file system to the directory where the docx files are located which need to be converted, or drag the docx containing folder to the desktop


2. Open the Terminal application, found in /Applications/Utilities/


3. Type the following command syntax, adding a space at the end of ‘txt’, but don’t hit return yet:
   

   textutil -convert txt

   
   


4. Go back to the Finder, now drag & drop the docx containing folder into the terminal window to print out the full directory path into the terminal


5. Add at the end of the directory path “*.docx” without the quotes, the resulting command string at the terminal prompt should look something like this:
   

   textutil -convert txt ~/Desktop/MyDocxFiles/*.docx

   
   


6. Hit return to complete the batch conversion

The new .txt files will appear almost instantly in the same folder as the original .docx files, they even have the same file name with the exception of the new file format extension. If you can’t tell the old file from the new files apart, be sure you have file format extensions set to visible in the Mac Finder to easily show the difference.

Thanks to James Harvard for the tip idea.

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