Got a message on your Mac that says you have to update Flash? Make sure it’s not a malware hijack, and update Flash safely!

Adobe frequently updates its Flash software with security improvements and other changes. Seeing update messages has become routine enough that some malware developers have started using “Flash updates” as a way of infecting your computer. Learn how to safely update your Mac to the latest version of Flash without worrying about malware or adware getting on there too.

What is Flash?

Adobe’s Flash multimedia software remains very popular for web content. Apple no longer pre-installs Flash on the Mac, but many of us have put it on on so we can access the web sites we use.

With Flash installed, Mac users can access multimedia content on the Web using Safari and other Mac-compatible web browsers.

Flash and malware

Adobe’s trying harder than ever to stay on top of security problems and exploits by regularly updating Flash software. Sometimes these updates are mandatory in order for you to continue to use Flash.

The updates have become frequent enough that developers of malware — software that hijacks your computer and potentially opens you up to security problems — have figured out that they can fool users into installing their software by making it look like Flash.

Fortunately, you can make sure you’re installing the real Flash by only downloading from Adobe’s web site. If you’re prompted to install a Flash file from anywhere besides a domain ending in “adobe.com,” close your web browser window immediately. If you’re confused or scared of what to do next, I’d recommend taking your Mac to an Apple Store or Apple-authorized service provider for further assistance.

If you’d like to make sure you’re on top of things yourself, follow these steps to install or update Flash on your Mac safely.

Bonus tip: If you don’t mind using a third-party Web browser on your Mac, there’s another solution, too. You can download Google’s Chrome web browser for OS X. Chrome “sandboxes” Flash — keeping it from installing malware.

Sandboxing is a security method for apps that restricts how they can access system resources. Apple requires apps downloaded from the Mac App Store and iOS App Store to be sandboxed. Google’s taken it a step further by sandboxing Flash itself inside the browser.

(Hat tip: Adam Spelbring)

To install (or update) Flash on your Mac

1. Double-click on Safari (or your preferred Web browser) to open it.
2. Type http://www.adobe.com in the address bar and press the return key.
3. Click on Search in the upper right hand corner.
4. Type Flash in the search field then click on Get Adobe Flash Player.
5. Click on the Install Now button on the right hand side.
6. A file whose name starts with “AdobeFlashPlayerInstaller” will now download to your computer. For most of us, this file goes in the Downloads folder. This file ends with .dmg. It’s a “disk image” file.
7. In Safari, click on the Downloads button in the search bar, then click on the magnifying glass to go to the .dmg file. Double-click on the AdobeFlashPlayerInstaller file to open it.
8. Quit Safari.
9. A new window will appear in your Finder. Double-click on the icon called Install Adobe Flash Player.
10. You may get a message saying, “‘Install Adobe Flash Player’ is an application downloaded from the Internet. Are you sure you want to open it?” It will tell you that the file came from “get.adobe.com.” Click on Open to proceed.
11. Type in your administrator password and click on OK.
12. The Adobe Flash Player installer will download additional content it needs to proceed. If you haven’t quit Safari, it will then tell you to close your web browser. Click on Safari, then click on the Safari menu, then click Quit Safari and click the Retry button in the installer.
13. Once the Flash Player Installer is done, it should say “Installation Complete.” Click on the Finish button.
14. Safari should relaunch. You should get a thank you message.
15. Flash should now be installed and up to date on your Mac. Make sure you’ve checked Allow Adobe to install updates (Recommended) in the Flash Player system preference, under the Updates tab, to stay on top of future security issues.

Baby Toy Phone is a Windows Phone game that turns your phone into an interactive toy phone for your toddler.

Available for low-memory Windows Phones, Baby Toy Phone has decent graphics, bright colors and a large collection of nursery rhymes that are played when your child makes calls from Baby Toy Phone. Obviously, this Windows Phone title isn’t going to be for everyone but for those with small children, it comes across as a great attention getter.

The flashing LED has to be one of the most loved, iconic, features when it comes to using a BlackBerry. It’s been around for years and I would imagine that most BlackBerry users would feel lost without it – including me.

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The Microsoft Store site currently has discounts of most of the Surface Pro 3 tablets. The price cuts are between $100 and $150 and Microsoft is also throwing in a free sleeve for the tablet with any Surface Pro 3 purchase.

It took 18 months to for authors Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzeli to get Apple executives on board with their new biography, Becoming Steve Jobs.

The book explores the personal and professional evolution of the late Steve Jobs. Drawing Schlender’s 25 years of reporting on Jobs, the book also features several interviews with Apple executives, including Jony Ive and Tim Cook. However, Apple initially declined to participate, according to The New York Times:

Apple’s cooperation wasn’t easily won, Mr. Schlender and Mr. Tetzeli said in an email interview. When the veteran tech journalists first approached the company about the book in 2012, both were told executives would not give any interviews. Apple changed its mind 18 months later, they said.

The company eventually agreed out of a sense of responsibility to say more about Steve Jobs as they knew him:

“After a long period of reflection following Steve’s death, we felt a sense of responsibility to say more about the Steve we knew,” Steve Dowling, an Apple spokesman, said. “We decided to participate in Brent and Rick’s book because of Brent’s long relationship with Steve, which gave him a unique perspective on Steve’s life. The book captures Steve better than anything else we’ve seen, and we are happy we decided to participate.”

Becoming Steve Jobs is one of a number of works about Jobs have been released in the years following his death, including the Walter Isaacson-penned authorized biography. A movie based on that biography will be released in theaters on October 9, starring Michael Fassbender as Jobs.

You’ll be able to get your hands on Becoming Steve Jobs tomorrow, March 24. It can be pre-ordered right now on iTunes for $12.99, and on Amazon as both a hardcover and Kindle book.

• Pre-order from iTunes
• Pre-order from Amazon

Source: The New York Times

Meet the case that’s going to transform your BlackBerry Z30 into a media viewing machine! This versatile hard case not only protects against those unforeseen drops, but also folds out to prop up your device in both portrait and landscape positions. Available in black or white today for only $14.95!

Snapchat is fun, fast, and super-popular, but it’s not for everyone all the time. And that’s okay.

If you decide that you don’t want to use Snapchat any more, you can permanently delete your account in just a few easy steps. Unfortunately, you can’t delete your account right from the Snapchat app for iPhone, but you can use Safari or any web browser on any computer. Deleting your account not only makes sure you won’t see any new snaps that might be coming in, but that no new snaps can come in.

How to permanently delete your Snapchat account

1. Go to https://support.snapchat.com/delete-account in any web browser. You can even use Safari on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Enter your Snapchat username and password.
3. Check the box confirming you aren’t a robot
4. Click on Submit.
5. Re-enter your password on the next page
6. Click on Delete My Account.

Just remember that once you delete your account, there’s no going back. If you want to make sure it’s really deleted, just attempt to log in using your old credentials. If it’s gone, there’ll be no way to log back in.

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak talks about the Apple Watch, the rumored Apple Car, and more in a new interview.

Wozniak expressed his belief that apps are going to be key to the Apple Watch’s success. He also said that, at least at first, he won’t be going for the more expensive watch models, opting instead for the Apple Watch Sport, according to Financial Review:

“I’m just not going to buy it for jewellery’s sake until I know it’s something I’m going to want around me and on me and use every single day continually as a permanent part of my life,” he said. “Then maybe I’d consider looking into getting the nicer jewelry version.”

Wozniak is also excited by the prospect of Apple building a car. A Tesla owner, Wozniak says that electric cars would be a good area for Apple to explore:

“There are an awful lot of companies right now who are playing with electric cars and there’s a lot more playing with self-driving cars, this is the future and it might be huge … there are so many openings here and it is perfect territory for a company like Apple.”

You can read the whole interview with Wozniak in at the link below.

Source: Financial Review

Microsoft wants owners of Windows 10 for phones to pay for goods and services similar to how Apple Pay works for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. It detailed those plans last week at a presentation at its WinHEC 2015 hardware conference in China.

Charge your mobile device quickly and efficiently while taking up less space around your outlet with this OEM travel charger from Nokia. This compact wall adapter features a USB port on the side for using your existing USB charging cable (not included). Yours today for only $9.95!