Now, to be clear, there is a simple way to thwart this threat and many argue it should be the default security setting on Safari browser’s on Macs.  Users may simply go to their Safari preferences, select the general tab and then uncheck ‘Open “safe” files after downloading’  By unchecking the default setting that allows files to download and open automatically you again take control over what is programs are installed and files opened on your system.

So the next logical question that comes to mind, after asking how do I stop this attack from infecting my Mac, is how do I better protect my Mac from other threats in general.  Unfortunately, the answer is likely that you’ll now need to consider installing an antivirus and/or other malware protection.  With an antivirus program you begin to fall into the same categories of issues that plague PC users:

• Which antivirus program to use and/or purchase
• Are the free virus scanners as good as the paid ones
• Computer slowdowns dues to antivirus running on your Mac
• Updating and scanning your system

The good news is that there are many antivirus programs currently, and likely more to come with the press given to this threat Mac Guard (a variant and evolution of Mac Protector and Mac Defender).  Some of the names in Mac virus protection are familiar to the PC world and others may be new: Sophos free antivirus for home users and paid business editions, ESET Cybersecurity for Mac on Apple’s web store, Clam AV, and others.

Are Macs now doomed to persistent unheralded threats just like PCs?  I think the time is still a little ways off, but it is certainly time to take notice and address security on your Mac just as you do on your PC.  As with PC users, when people ask me how to best keep their systems safe, my first response is to be smart about where you go and what you do on the Internet and other networks.  However, even websites you would consider safe such as your aunt’s picture webpage of her trip to the Adirondack Mountains can be compromised by the server that hosts the site and infect your system with malware.  So, if users who are smart about their web surfing and don’t share USB thumb drives with their music sharing son can be infected, then the next step is to tighten down the security of your Mac and install additional programs to automatically protect your system.

It is not the end of days for Mac users, but rather should be considered a wake-up to see that all the hype saying that Mac users don’t need antivirus or need to worry about security may have been more due to an advantage of low market share and low interest by virus writers rather than security superiority over PCs.  I like Macs.  I’m writing this post on a Mac.  But security issues are not limited by operating system manufacturer.  More so it depends on the user, how the system is configured and how it is used.  We’ve seen Linux server grossly compromised because they’ve been setup incorrectly alongside Windows servers suffering the same.  Take some time to learn about the security tools and options available for your Mac and enjoy the zen experience Apple offers.

I’m often asked which smartphone is best for small business users.  My gut response from dealing with pretty much every make and model of mobile phone and smartphone is the Apple iPhone.

With that said, there is often a better answer for small business users than simply stating the iPhone is best.  If you are a small business owner or sales person traveling far from major metropolitan areas, the accompanying and mandatory AT&T mobile service may not be the best fit for you due to smaller coverage areas outside big cities and major highways.  If AT&T’s coverage is a deal breaker, then I suggest going with Verizon and one of their smartphone options.  I’ve managed, configured and used Droid phones and am not a big fan of the size of the devices.  There are other smaller, and less expensive mobile device options that will serve the same purpose and more easily fit into your pocket.  I’m several sentences into an opinion on choosing a mobile phone for small business and have nary a mention of the ubiquitous Blackberry; the crown jewel of enterprise business users and the leader of the free world.  I am not a big fan of Blackberry devices.  However, I do see many successful business owners and companies using Blackberries who all love them.  And that is really where the gut reaction of my first sentence could be completely wrong for a particular user.  If you “grew up” on a “Crackberry” then that is likely the best mobile device for you.

As a side note for Blackberry users: If you’ve always wanted the experience of the Blackberry Enterprise Server that large organizations use but didn’t know how or didn’t want to pay for the data plans and licensing you’ve got another option now.  Blackberry offers another option, Blackberry Professional & Express Server.  Get real-time synchronization of mail, calendar and contacts to your company’s Microsoft Exchange mail server.  Here is the best part, though, you do not need the upgraded and more expensive BES (Blackberry Enterprise Server) data plan anymore for all the advanced sync features.  On top of that, the new Blackberry Server option is FREE.  Correct, 100% free licensing for the server and user licenses.  If you want more information on how to sync your Blackberry to your Exchange mail server with no license fees or upgraded data plans just let us know.

If you are open to change and are not put-off by the AT&T iPhone data plans, then I strongly recommend opting for an iPhone.  It does not need to be an iPhone 4 or even the iPhone 3GS.  The iPhone 3G and the newer ones mentioned all provide a large screen to more easily read emails, pdfs, web pages, view pictures, follow the built-in map function and GPS and obviously has a whole truckload of available apps.  Oddly enough, as cool as the multitude of iPhone applications are, and as entertaining as so many apps can be, there are actually many useful iPhone apps available to grow your small business and allow you to be more productive and effective in your daily work.  But, alas, that is for another post.  Cheers.

Print screen from your iPhone:

• To take screenshot on your iPhone hold down lock/off button on top of phone & click the home key; saves it to your camera roll.

*

How to print from your iPhone:

• Here are some limited options to send items to a printer directly from an iPhone or iPod, along with options to print to shared printers on a MAC and how to run applications on a PC or MAC that enable printing from your iPhone.

*

MacWorld’s iPhone section provides some more good help and tips for your iPhone.

These are just some of our business technology tweets, follow us for more Indianapolis business consulting news and advice.

If you have some more tips please let us know or send us your questions to utilize your iPhone within business.

Microsoft missed out on an entire generation of business computer upgrades due to poor performance and poor press on Windows Vista.  I don’t think there can be a better time than now for Apple to focus its sights on business computing.  I like to focus on attorneys and law firms when dealing with emerging business computing issues because they are considered one of the top technology power users.  With a substantial portion of the legal industry moving towards full digital use, lawyers and legal professionals are an obvious barometer for future business computing trends.

Apple still faces that catch 22 scenario that has plagued them for decades; how do you enter a market to run many business applications that are developed exclusively for Windows.  If you never gain a foothold into business computing then software developers will not write applications compatible to run on Macs.  In kind, if you only have a few compatible applications for business that run on Macs how can you gain a significant market share of business computing to be a viable alternative to Windows?  A simple illustration of this point is provided in two of the most prevalent legal profession and law office software applications, LexisNexis’ PCLaw and Amicus Attorney.  Neither of these products are compatible with Apple’s Mac OS.

Another point on Apple’s penetration into the computing market as a whole, is a recent article stating many students are passing on Macs for smaller and less expensive netbooks.  Academia has always been an Apple stronghold and their chance to gain future customers after those students moved into the business sector.

What percentage of Macs do you have at your business?