A shoutout to 7 years of Fastmail the perfect Gmail replacement

Fastmail is a fantastic email provider that consistently delivers high-quality service. From the moment I signed up 7 years ago, I have been impressed with the user-friendly interface and wide range of features available. The customization options allow me to tailor my inbox to my specific needs and the filters make it easy to stay … Continue reading A shoutout to 7 years of Fastmail the perfect Gmail replacement →

Ads on your iPhone

Apple, the Ad Critic, Now Embraces Ads New York Times Plus, Apple’s campaign to crack down on existing ad methods and sell its own ads opens the company to criticism that it’s acting hypocritical. Yes, it does. but the company wants more ways to earn income to keep growing as sales of smartphones stagnate. Bloomberg … Continue reading Ads on your iPhone →

Chrome 97 lets you erase all data and information a website stored on your visit

I don't use Chrome but I know a lot of Mac users do use Chrome or a Chromium-based browser. Chrome 97 released yesterday comes with a significant Security & Privacy improvement that I want to bring to your attention. Joe Fedewa, writing at How-To Geek Chrome 97 makes some changes to the Privacy and Security … Continue reading Chrome 97 lets you erase all data and information a website stored on your visit →

🖇 Verizon opting iPhone users into data collection and tracking

Andrew Paul, writing at Input A new program innocuously titled the “Verizon Custom Experience” is sold to users as a way for the company to “personalize our communications with you, give you more relevant product and service recommendations, and develop plans, services and offers that are more appealing to you.” To accomplish this, all a … Continue reading 🖇 Verizon opting iPhone users into data collection and tracking →

Goodbye 1Password

I stopped using 1Password in July 2019 when it stopped working with Safari 13 in macOS Catalina. At that time, I tried Enpass but eventually settled on Bitwarden which I’ve been happily using since. I went Premium about a year ago. Even though I switched to Bitwarden, I didn’t delete 1Password from my devices, thinking … Continue reading Goodbye 1Password →

🔗 Link Post: Daring Fireball: Annotating Apple’s Anti-Sideloading White Paper

There are a lot of articles about allowing sideloading on iOS floating around. I have read several of them. I found John Gruber's to be the most thoughtful and want I to share it with you. John Gruber writing for Daring Fireball: Annotating Apple’s Anti-Sideloading White Paper Wednesday, 23 June 2021 Apple today released a … Continue reading 🔗 Link Post: Daring Fireball: Annotating Apple’s Anti-Sideloading White Paper →

I didn’t get my one wish for iPadOS 15

I had only one wish for iPadOS 15, and it was that I wanted the Files app to become a true Finder equivalent and that didn’t happen. What we did get were some big improvements to multitasking that I’m looking forward to. Jason Snell and Myke Hurley in Episode 356 of the Upgrade podcast give … Continue reading I didn’t get my one wish for iPadOS 15 →

PSA: What Is Amazon Sidewalk and Why Should I Disable It Before June 8?

Brendan Hesse writing for Lifehacker: On June 8, Amazon will launch a new feature called Sidewalk that creates small, public internet networks powered by Echo smart speakers and Ring home security products in your neighborhood. Yes, including yours—unless you disable the setting, which is turned on by default. That means if you don’t want your … Continue reading PSA: What Is Amazon Sidewalk and Why Should I Disable It Before June 8? →

Many of Apple’s privacy labels are false

I have to say this is disappointing to read. According to a Washington Post article, Apple’s big privacy product is built on a shaky foundation: the honor system. In tiny print on the detail page of each app label, Apple says, “This information has not been verified by Apple.” Shame on the developers for lying, … Continue reading Many of Apple’s privacy labels are false →

Google apps will stop certain tracking to avoid the iOS “Allow Tracking” prompt

With iOS 14, Apple is requiring app developers to tell users about and have them opt-in to tracking. Google today announced that “when Apple’s policy goes into effect, it will no longer use information (such as IDFA) that falls under ATT for the handful of our iOS apps that currently use it for advertising purposes. As … Continue reading Google apps will stop certain tracking to avoid the iOS “Allow Tracking” prompt →

Firefox 85 adds supercookie protection. What about Safari?

In technology news today Mozilla announced that it has added built-in protection from supercookies to Firefox 85. “Firefox now protects you from supercookies, a type of tracker that can stay hidden in your browser and track you online, even after you clear cookies,” Mozilla explains in a blog post. “By isolating supercookies, Firefox prevents them … Continue reading Firefox 85 adds supercookie protection. What about Safari? →

Apple doubles down on iOS App Tracking Transparency

According to Craig Federighi, The aim of ATT is “to empower our users to decide when or if they want to allow an app to track them in a way that could be shared across other companies’ apps or websites”. With Apple requiring developers to share privacy details needed for the new privacy labels on … Continue reading Apple doubles down on iOS App Tracking Transparency →

UPDATE: iOS 14 has Zuckerberg/Facebook running scared

I’ve been working on an article about the iOS 14 privacy feature that has Facebook and other advertisers running scared. Facebook acknowledged that Apple’s upcoming iOS 14 could lead to a more than 50% drop in its Audience Network advertising business. (Doesn’t that just break your heart) Today to my disappointment, Apple is holding off … Continue reading UPDATE: iOS 14 has Zuckerberg/Facebook running scared →

Encryption as we know it is in jeopardy

I wrote an article on Medium this afternoon and I want to share it with you. It’s about a law the United States Congress is considering that will ruin online privacy and security as we know it. Here’s a link to the article:America’s LAED Act encryption ban must be stopped

My thoughts on Apple & Google’s COVID-19 contact tracing

From what I’ve read Apple and Google’s COVID-19 contact tracing seems like a good idea and one that I’ll most likely use. It appears to be the best technological solution to date for governmental authorities to partially lift the lockdown orders that are currently in place. That said I do have privacy concerns. According to … Continue reading My thoughts on Apple & Google’s COVID-19 contact tracing →

My choice for a Safari 13 content blocker on Mac

With Safari 13 my favorite Mac ad and tracker blocker uBlock Origin, along with a few other extensions, no longer work. Because of this, I have switched to Firefox as my main browser. That said there will still be times when I will want to use Safari and will want an ad and tracker blocker. … Continue reading My choice for a Safari 13 content blocker on Mac →

Day One encryption

I have been using Day One for going on three years now. One concern I’ve had is that journals by default are encrypted but with Day One holding the encryption key. This means that someone at Day One might be able to access my journals. Journals with Standard encryption are also exposed to a data … Continue reading Day One encryption →

What you need to know about the tech giants Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Apple

I just finished reading Kashmir Hill’s series of articles Life Without the Tech Giants. Here’s what I learned. It’s impossible to get along without them even if we’re boycotting their apps. Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Apple dominate the internet in ways I never realized. This should be required reading for everyone who uses the … Continue reading What you need to know about the tech giants Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Apple →