After the massive news letter last week, we are getting a bit of reprieve. The DMA/Alternative App Store/Epic drama is still ongoing. And we discuss an interesting zsh security weakness.
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š° News and Opinion
More options for apps distributed in the European Union
Weāre providing more flexibility for developers who distribute apps in the European Union (EU), including introducing a new way to distribute apps directly from a developerās website.
Apple will allow users to download apps directly from a developerās website, in latest EU App Store rule change
Now, Apple has announced a few additional changes in response to feedback itās received from developers so far. Most notably, Apple will launch a new Web Distribution feature later this spring that lets developers offer their apps for download directly from their website.
LowProfile is perfect for inspecting Apple Configuration Profiles
LowProfile is an excellent (and free) app for inspecting and understanding [configuration profile] payloads before you deploy them.
āļø Apple Updates
Apple Style Guide - March 2024
provides editorial guidelines for text in Apple instructional materials, technical documentation, reference information, training programs, and user interfaces
Contains many new entries regarding Apple Vision Pro related terminology (don't call it a 'headset') as well as many other updates. Also available as pdf. The ebook is not yet updated.
š Security and Privacy
No āApple magicā as 11% of macOS detections last year came from malware | Malwarebytes
a full 11% of all detections recorded by Malwarebytes on Mac computers in 2023 were for different variants of malware
zsh scripts and Root Escalations
There is an argument to be had about whether this CVE deserves its high rating, but it is worth discussing the underlying issue and presenting some solutions.
šØ Support and Tutorials
An update on disabling Slack auto-updates
there is a new method to disable Slackās auto-update mechanism
Okta Device Access with Jamf a step-by step guide
how to configure Okta Device Access Desktop MFA and Desktop Password Sync if you use Jamf Pro as your MDM solution
Security and Enrolment Customisation
Some updates have been implemented that impact your customized enrolment settings in Jamf Pro, specifically regarding the functionality of some inline images.
Manage your Mac's battery for endurance and lifespan
with Appleās battery management: donāt try to second-guess what it should do and try to manage your battery, but use it normally and with care
Q&A with the Mac notary service team
The Mac notary service team is part of Apple Security Engineering and Architecture, and in this Q&A, they share their tips on app distribution and account security to help Mac developers have a positive experience
š¤ Scripting and Automation
A Token Gesture
If you work with the Jamf Pro classic API, be aware that Basic Authentication is deprecated and will go away. Specifically this month, so itās time to get your house in order!
ā»ļø Updates and Releases
iPulse for iOS
iPulse for iOS/iPadOS literally creates a movie of whatās going on inside your device and updates it every second.
Really smart solution to displaying live system status while other apps are running on iOS.
š§ Listen
New Fingerprint Clone Magic ft. Mac Admins Podcast
On todayās episode, Charles, Marcus, and Tom from the Mac Admins Podcast share their top tips for Apple device users looking to manage their own security.
Going viral shouldn't lead to bomb threats, with Leigh Honeywell
Online hate and harassment campaigns are well-known and widely studied. Sadly, theyāre also becoming more frequent.
The lasting impact of the iPhone
I talk with Weldon Dodd about the iPhoneās impact, history, and future.
šJust for Fun
Glassy Wallpapers
What stands out in Glassy is the sense of play that shines through these wallpapers, an abstract and vibrant collage of shape, reflection, and shadow.