Apple has released a firmware update for 2011 and 2012 series MacBook Airs

Apple has released a firmware update for 2011 and 2012 series MacBook Airs, enabling the Power Nap feature in the latest version of OS X. Released yesterday, Mountain Lion uses the feature to perform actions such as updating and processing notifications while the computer is ostensibly powered down, creating a smoother transition between sleeping and waking modes.

The system management controller (SMC) update is currently available for download via Apple's support site, with specific versions for the mid-2012 and mid-2011 Airs. Power Nap will not be supported on the late-2010 model or any earlier versions, but a firmware update is apparently "coming soon" for the new MacBook Pro with Retina display.

Users planning to upgrade should be aware that the package causes the machine to spin its fans at full speed for the duration of the flashing process — don't be alarmed if your beloved MacBook sounds like it's about to take off.

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Again Trojan named “OSX/Crisis” Discovered in Apple's Mac

It is a popular belief that Apple's mac is virus free but now again today, Mac security firm Intego announced that it had discovered a new Mac OS X trojan called OSX/Crisis. The malware installs itself without user intervention and hides itself well if installed with root permission.

While the risk has been identified as low — the malware has not yet been found in the wild — it’s alarming that OSX/Crisis exhibits a number of stealthing qualities rarely seen in OS X malware. For one, OSX/Crisis is what’s formally known as a Trojan dropper, which means it can cloak itself behind the guise of a music file, a game or a screen saver.

Luckily, there are ways to check if your Mac has been infected. If OSX/Crisis is installed on a Mac running in root or administrator mode, the following files will turn up:

• /System/Library/Frameworks/Foundation.framework/XPCServices/com.apple.mdworker_server.xpc/Contents/MacOS/com.apple.mdworker_server
• /System/Library/Frameworks/Foundation.framework/XPCServices/com.apple.mdworker_server.xpc/Contents/Resources/
• /Library/ScriptingAdditions/appleHID/Contents/Resources/appleOsax.r

However, without root access, only the last file will be present:

• /Library/ScriptingAdditions/appleHID/Contents/Resources/appleOsax.r

OSX/Crisis routinely calls home to the IP address 176.58.100.37 every 5 minutes, awaiting instructions. However, it’s worth noting that this IP address could change over time.
Additionally, the backdoor file with this functionality has been coded in such a way that reverse engineering tools won’t work as well when analyzing the file — a technique called anti-analysis which is commonly seen in Windows malware, yet almost unheard of in OS X malware.
OSX/Crisis is only threatening to the two latest versions of Mac OS X, Snow Leopard and Lion.

On the bright side, if you already use Intego VirusBarrier X6, all you need to do is update to get the latest protection from this threat. Otherwise, users with malware anxiety can check out the relevant Mac protection software from Intego here.

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Mountain Lion now available to download from App Store for $19.99

Apple has released the latest version of its OS X operating system called Mountain Lion. Users with compatible Mac machines can download the operating system from the Mac App Store for $19.99. Those who bought a Mac on or after July 11 are eligible to aupgrade to Mountain Lion for free. Apple had announced during its earnings call that it would be releasing Mountain Lion today. The release is being rolled out in phases so it might reflect on Mac App Store shortly if it is not visible at the moment. Read on to see if your Mac is compatible or not.
OS X Mountain Lion is compatible with the following Macs:

• iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
• MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)
• MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
• MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
• Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
• Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
• Xserve (Early 2009)

Users need to ensure they are running OS X 10.7.x (Lion) to install Mountain Lion. Those running Snow Leopard (10.6.x) need to first update to the latest version of Snow Leopard Lion before they can upgrade to Mountain Lion. You can check out a detailed list of more than 200 new features of Mac OS X Mountain Lion here.

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OS X Mountain Lion Vs Windows 8 [comparison]

The Mac versus PC war has entered a new phase, with Apple and Microsoft readying new operating systems for launch. With Windows 8, Microsoft is ambitiously targeting laptops, desktops and tablets with a single platform (albeit with different versions). Meanwhile, Apple is sticking to laptops and desktops with OS X Mountain Lion, leaving iOS to lead the post-PC charge.

While Windows 8 represents an extreme makeover, Mountain Lion keeps the core OS X environment mostly consistent while borrowing some of the best features of iOS. As of press time, neither Windows 8 (available as a Release Preview) nor Mountain Lion (tested in developer preview) were finished products. But the operating systems are far enough along that we can compare them to see which platform is shaping up to provide the better everyday computing experience.

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