Repeat after me: I will not download some random PDF editing app. Scummy developers can sneak in malware. Next time you need to adjust a PDF or add your John Hancock, go to edit.ing or sign.ing from Adobe.
Update roundup: Windows, iOS, macOS, Google, Adobe and more
When it rains, it pours — and I’m not talking about the weather! A bunch of operating systems, apps and programs just released critical security updates. To make your life easier, I rounded up the most important ones right here.
Before we dive in, if you see the term “zero-day,” that means it’s important. A zero-day flaw is one hackers know about and are taking advantage of right now.
Microsoft
The September 2023 Windows security update includes fixes for 59 known issues, like security bypasses and information disclosure vulnerabilities, and patches for two zero-day flaws.
- Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
Adobe
Download the patch here to fix a zero-day vulnerability in Acrobat and Reader.
- Go to Help > Check for Updates, or download the full Acrobat Reader installer.
Yikes. This is the fourth zero-day fix for Chrome this year. The good news is your Chrome browser should automatically check for updates and install them after a restart.
- To double-check in Chrome, hit the three dots in the top right corner, then Help > About Google Chrome.
The Android September 2023 update is out, too.
Best free video editing program for Windows, Mac, Linux
Look up the most popular video editing software, and you’ll find enormous price tags. If you have to edit videos for work, you need something affordable and dependable — preferably without the high costs. DaVinci Resolve 18 is a great free option that works just as well as expensive apps from Adobe or Corel.
Photoshop skills without all the training: It’s here with Adobe’s Magic Fixup. Imagine deciding you want something in an image in a different place or a little bigger. You can cut and paste it, then AI does all the work to make it look natural. Amazing stuff.
Opt-Out Tuesday: Stop Adobe from using your work to improve its AI
Our Opt-Out Tuesday series was created to help you remove yourself from invasive people search sites. The opt-out process isn’t always easy, so we put detailed instructions for the biggest culprits out there. The list has been growing by the week and now includes over 30 entries.
Microsoft just added a new reason you might want to try Edge
In a recent update, Microsoft revealed that it would integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its Bing search engine. If that isn’t enough to pique your interest, another update might make you want to give Edge another try.
Read on for a significant update coming to Edge that Microsoft hopes will make you switch browsers.
🎤 Listen up: Adobe has a free tool to test if your mic is set correctly for a podcast or video meeting. Try it here. You’ll get pointers on where to sit relative to your mic and whether there’s too much going on in the background. Nice!
DALL-E who? Adobe Photoshop’s Generative Fill feature can generate AI objects in an image just like DALL-E or Midjourney:
- Select an area or object with the selection tool.
- With your area selected, right-click on it and select Generative Fill (or go to Edit > Generative Fill).
- In the text prompt box, describe the object or scene you want to add and click Generate. You’ll see previews of variations.
File cleanup: You have separate PDFs that should all be in one file. In Adobe Acrobat, go to Tools > Combine Files to merge multiple PDFs into a single file. Don’t pay for Adobe? No sweat. Here’s a free site I like for editing PDFs.
🤖 ChatGPT warning: When you get info on ChatGPT, the results often include citation links. Click one and it might take you to scam central. Some links, like “County Local News,” are riddled with dodgy pop-ups pretending to be Adobe Flash updates or fake McAfee virus scans. Watch out!
🪄 You need a magic wand: The FCC says Adobe has predatory subscription billing practices. When you try to cancel Creative Cloud, Adobe charges you half of your leftover subscription, and they make it nearly impossible to cancel without calling. Caught in their web? The FCC put out a guide to help you dispute your charges.
Adobe’s new ToS: When you agree to Photoshop’s new terms of service, you’re letting Adobe look at your ongoing projects for “content moderation” and more. Got projects under NDA? Tough luck. I bet they’re covering their butts so they, too, can train their AI with your designs.
💄 Maybe it can put my makeup on for pics: Adobe just teased a few flashy new Photoshop features. Advanced Generative Fill lets you select an area and write something like, “Clear shallow water.” It does just that, adding it in for you. The demo is sweet, and our designer says the beta version worked great.
How to save images from a Word doc or PDF
When you want to send a document as is, a PDF is the way to go. Adobe created the Portable Document Format to allow you to share manuals, forms, resumes, contracts, scanned material, pages from a book, eBooks and more to any device without changing its look or ruining the format.
Tech tip: How to digitally sign a document on a PC, Mac, Android or iPhone
Technology has undoubtedly made many things simpler, but it’s also introduced new worries. Here are five dangerous cybersecurity mistakes you might be making. Scan this list to make sure you’re not putting yourself in danger.
New report: Half of every phishing attempt worldwide impersonates this brand
When you get an email from a well-known company, how sure are you that it is legitimate? Scammers are getting more clever with spoofing companies to send phishing attacks.
They hope you will click on a malicious link or attachment by impersonating actual companies. Unfortunately, one brand is used more than others worldwide as a lure.
Malware in popular Android app steals your Facebook credentials - Delete it now
Imagine downloading a fun photo-editing app in hopes of turning yourself into a cartoon. Instead, the app doesn’t even work — and to add insult to injury, it steals your Facebook credentials. This isn’t imaginary: It’s based on a true story of about 100,000 people who recently downloaded a malicious app.