News

Apple has released new updates for Macs, iPhones, iPads, AppleTVs and Apple Watches, largely to patch a number of security vulnerabilities. The new versions are listed below, along with links to more details about the specific vulnerabilities being addressed.

• macOS
• 13.5 (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213843)
• 11.7.9 (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213845)
• 12.6.8 (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213844)
• iOS & iPadOS
• 16.6 (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213841)
• 15.7.8 (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213842)
• tvOS
• 16.6 (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213846)
• watchOS
• 9.6 (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213848)

As always, it is a good idea to update at your earliest convenience to keep your device(s) secure.

Happy New Year! And depending on where you are, I hope you are keeping warm.

Google is kicking off the year with a critical update for Android phones, especially for those using Microsoft Teams and similar apps. Due to bugs in both the Android voice call subsystem and Microsoft Teams, calling 911, or the equivalent in other countries, would fail and crash the phone subsystem, preventing emergency calls. Thankfully the Android user who first reported this was able to use a nearby landline to call 911.

An Android system update has been pushed out yesterday, January 5, 2021, for Google’s Pixel phones (3a, 4, 4a, 5, and 5a), with the Pixel 6 update coming later this month. Other Android manufacturers phone will hopefully be pushing out updates shortly as well.

In addition to the Android update, if you are using Microsoft Teams you should also make sure you are running the latest version of Teams to fix the bug it had that contributed to the problem. Apps similar to Teams with voice calling or VOIP functionality could also be affected too, though I haven’t seen any reports so far. As not all Android phones will be getting the operating system update, updating the apps will be important to mitigate the bug. To help determine if this issue is a potential problem for you, there is an app available on the Google Play Store called “PhoneAccount Abuse Detector”. Using this app can help determine if other apps besides Microsoft Teams may also cause the same problem. To get the app, go the site below on your Android phone, and click the Google Play Link.

https://paad.linuxct.space

As this series of bugs can have such a big impact to potentially life threatening siutations, it is important to get the updates as soon as you can.

And as always, if you have more questions about this, please reach out to me.

Welcome to G.O. Technology Professionals Inc. and the launch of the new website! So, what is G.O. Technology all about? It is about helping you make the best use of computers and modern technology in your personal and work life. I can help with picking out the best hardware to buy, what software to use, and troubleshooting any problems that come up. And rather than just work on a case-by-case basis, I would like to work with you to understand your needs and build an ongoing relationship where I can keep on top of any changes in the tech world that will affect you, and help you navigate the ever-changing tech landscape.

Computers have come a long way in our personal lives, from maybe having one computer at home many years ago, to having multiple computers, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and many other devices these days. Navigating all of this takes time, which most would rather spend on things they enjoy, not their computers. I can help you make sense of it all and help you with using it too. Whether that is backing up your irreplaceable photos, securely managing the many passwords we need these days, or putting together a slideshow for a family event.

Running and managing a business is challenging enough without also having to worry about your computers, smartphones, network, and any other related systems. And on top of that, there is working out what the best software and tools are for your needs, setting them, upgrading to new versions, backing up, security, training and troubleshooting any issues that pop up. Let me help you with all of this so you can focus on your business.

If this sounds like a good fit for you, please reach out and give me a shout!