Flashback

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on Flashback:

6 classic Mac games you can enjoy on iOS

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Flashback
This was a game-changer for computer games back in the day.
Image: MobyGames

With a constant stream of new, console-quality games in the iOS App Store, and subscription gaming service Apple Arcade on the way, there’s arguably never been a better time to be an Apple gamer. Yet despite all the great new iOS games, sometimes you just want to relive your misspent youth.

This week, Paul Cuisset’s classic Mac platformer Flashback blasted its way into the App Store. To mark the occasion, we dug up some of the best classic games that graced vintage Macs but now can be played on your iOS device. Check them out.

Mac classic Flashback blasts its way onto iOS

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Flashback
This was a game on seemingly every computer back in the day.
Photo: MobyGames

If you were a gamer in 1992, you may well have fond memories of Flashback — or, as it was known in the U.S., Flashback: The Quest for Identity.

Created by Paul Cuisset, the platform game was reminiscent of Prince of Persia, but set in the far future. Well, almost 30 years later, it’s coming to iOS in a new, updated version.

Flashback clothes are carefully crafted nuclear photobombs

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Flashback, menswear by Betabrand, uses a higly reflective material sure to make an impression in flash photos. Photo: Betabrand
Flashback menswear uses a highly reflective material that's sure to make an impression in flash photos. Photo: Betabrand

Most clothing designers like to see their clothes well photographed. Betabrand’s Steven B. Wheeler has menswear that just might ruin a photo — and that’s part of the cool factor.

Wheeler and DJ Chris Holmes teamed up to design five pieces called Flashback, clothing made of a highly reflective fabric that will bounce any iPhone flash right back through the lens.

In most cases, the result produces a nuclear look, with the silhouette of the clothes distractingly white hot. Surrounding details either get lost in the shadows or simply go unnoticed because the eyes zero in on the aura of the Flashback clothing.

Recreate Everpix’s Flashback With Automator, Dropbox and iCal

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flashback

It seems like people really miss Everpix’s great Flashback feature. I have spent far too many hours over the past few days trying to find a way to replace it, but Thomas Verschoren went one better, and rolled his own Flashback. It relies on your photos being stored in Dropbox, and requires you to set an Automator action to run automatically every day using iCal, but it’s pretty simple as Thomas provides all the pieces for you.

Beam New Sounds To The Flashback Guitar Pedal With Your Mac Or iOS Device [Review]

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tc-electronic-flashback-5.jpg

TC Electronic’s Flashback guitar pedal ($169) is a multitalented piece of gear. Its robust set of delay and loop features make it easy to get lost in hours of guitar playing, but when paired with a Mac or iOS device, it does something no other pedals can do.

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

Apple Releases Flashback Removal Tool And Adobe Flash Disabler For OS X Leopard Users

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Screen Shot 2012-05-15 at 12.07.00 AM
Still on Leopard? Grab these updates from Apple.

While the threat of the Flashback trojan has seemed to largely subside, Apple has released a tool for removing Flashback from older Macs running OS X 10.5 Leopard. A Flashback removal tool was released for Lion and Snow Leopard users a month ago, and now Leopard Macs can get in on the action. Yay for antivirus software!

Apple has also released a Leopard security update that automatically disables outdated versions of Adobe Flash player.

Apple Teams Up With Kaspersky To Fight Mac Malware

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mac-virus-trojan
Apple is working with Kaspersky to identify vulnerabilities in Mac OS X.

If you still think your Mac is immune to malware and malicious infections then it’s time to stop kidding yourself. The recent Flashback trojan has proven that these a real issue for Apple’s desktop operating system, and as long as Mac OS X continues to grow, so will its infections.

But Apple is now working to prevent them. It issued a fix for the Flashback infection after it became apparent just how huge it was, and the Cupertino company is now teaming up with security specialists Kaspersky to identify other vulnerabilities.

Last Chance To Grab The Mac VirusBarrier Bundle [Deals]

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CoM - Computer Virus

If you don’t think that your Mac is susceptible to a virus, then you couldn’t be more wrong. With the popularity of the Mac growing every day, they are becoming more of a target. If you want to protect your computer — and speed it up at the same time — the latest Cult of Mac Deals offer is just for you! But the time to get it is almost up!

With VirusBarrier X6 you’ll be able to protect your Mac from network threats, viruses, trojan horses and all other malware. Washing Machine 2 enables you to clean up web files that compromise your privacy and slow down your Mac in the process.

Flashback Malware Was Worth Up To $10,000 A Day To Its Creators [Report]

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The Flashback infection could have generated more in 7 days then most will earn in a year.
The Flashback infection could have generated more in 7 days than most will earn in a year.

The Flashback malware which was found to be infecting over 650,000 Macs at its peak was earning its creators up to $10,000 a day, according to security specialists Symantec. The OSX.Flashback.K trojan, which is believed to be the largest Mac infection to date, is designed to steal page views and advertising revenue from Google.

New Windows Conficker Infections Put Flashback In Perspective, Offer Warning

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Continued Conficker threat offers perspective/warning on Mac malware
Continued Conficker threat offers perspective/warning on Mac malware

News, information, and commentary of the Flashback malware threat has ricocheted around the web over the past few weeks. The news of dangerous Mac malware has spread from the Apple and tech media into the mainstream. While not downplaying the seriousness of the threat, a Microsoft announcement yesterday does offer some perspective.

Microsoft made it clear that the Conficker worm is still infecting millions of PCs worldwide – three years after fears about Conficker’s potential damage and the estimated level of infections (estimates ran as high 12 million PCs at the time) created a media frenzy.

Kaspersky CEO: Apple Is “10 Years Behind Microsoft In Terms Of Security”

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Kaspersky believes Apple needs to invest more into Mac OS X security as more and more malware infections appear.
Kaspersky believes Apple needs to invest more into Mac OS X security as more and more malware infections appear.

One of the main reasons many of us turned to Apple’s machines and its OS X operating system is the belief that the company’s software is more secure than Windows, its biggest rival. However, Eugene Kaspersky, CEO and co-founder of Kaspersky, one of the industry’s leading security specialists, believes that Apple is “10 years behind Microsoft in terms of security,” and that Apple need to invest more into security audits for its software.

“Wake Up, Mac Users!” One In Five Macs Carry Malware

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Kaspersky is helping Apple identify vulnerabilities in Mac OS X.
Mac users are being urged to "wake up" and realize that malware is a growing problem for Mac OS X.

Think your Mac’s safe now that you’ve removed that Flashback infection? Think again. New research conducted by security specialists Sophos has revealed a “disturbingly high level” of Macs are currently carrying malware, though much of it is designed to attack Windows machines.

Of the 100,000 Macs that Sophos analyzed, one in five was found to be carrying Windows malware, while one in 36 was carrying malware designed for and dangerous to Mac OS X.

Flashback Trojan Discoverer Reveals That 650,000 Macs Are Still Infected

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Flashback is still far from dead.
Flashback is still far from dead.

The Flashback saga has yet to reach its end, as a recent report debunks earlier claims that the number of infected Macs had fallen from 600,000 to 140,000 over a matter of a few days. Apple released a security tool to combat Flashback last week, and Norton Symantec reported that the number of infected machines had fallen to 140,000 shortly after. That number has been proven to be inaccurate.

In an interesting turn of events, the original Flashback whistleblower, Russian security firm Dr. Web, has revealed that around 650,000 Macs are still infected with the notorious trojan. Not only are there many Macs connected to the botnet that were previously unaccounted for, but more OS X computers are added every day.

Protect And Speed Up Your Mac With The Mac VirusBarrier Bundle [Deals]

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CoM - Computer Virus

If you don’t think that your Mac is susceptible to a virus, then you couldn’t be more wrong. With the popularity of the Mac growing every day, they are becoming more of a target. If you want to protect your computer – and speed it up at the same time, the latest Cult of Mac Deals offer is just for you!

With this killer bundle you’ll get 1 year of ultimate protection against all known malware and viruses, like the one that recently made the news: Flashback. With VirusBarrier X6 you’ll be able to protect your Mac from network threats, viruses, trojan horses and all other malware. Washing Machine 2 enables you to clean up web files that compromise your privacy and slow down your Mac in the process.

And this deal is only $36 for a limited time. When you think about it, the only thing you have to lose by not taking advantage of this Cult of Mac Deals bundle is your Mac. Don’t let that happen.

Five Major Lessons IT Needs To Learn From The Flashback Fiasco

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Flashback threat may be fading, but companies shouldn't get complacent about Mac malware
Flashback threat may be fading, but companies shouldn't get complacent about Mac malware

With the number of Flashback-infected Macs dwindling more each day and Apple’s release of software updates that can both clean an infected Mac and prevent infection or reinfection, it’s easy for IT departments and individual Mac users to think that the crisis has passed. That doesn’t mean that it’s time to forget about the issue of malware targeting Macs, however. In fact, the entire event has been a wakeup call to IT and security professionals as well as to the wider Mac community – Macs are not invincible.

When reflecting on the Flashback events of the past couple of weeks, there are five major themes or lessons for businesses and IT department to consider when it comes to supporting Macs going forward.

Apple Suffers More Vulnerabilities Than Google, Microsoft, Adobe In Last Quarter

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This Apple's software is free from vulnerabilities? You couldn't be more wrong.
Think Apple's software is free from vulnerabilities? You couldn't be more wrong.

Apple’s operating systems and its software are generally believed to be the best available in terms of security and stability, but a new report from Trend Micro reveals that’s a huge misconception… at least in recent months. In fact, the Cupertino company suffered more vulnerabilities during the last quarter than rivals like Oracle, Google, Adobe, and even Microsoft.

Macs Infected With Flashback Drop To 140,000 After Apple Releases Removal Tool [Report]

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Apple has crippled Flashback significantly, and the number of infected users is dropping rapidly.
Apple has crippled Flashback significantly, but many Mac users have not yet taken action to remove the trojan.

The notorious Flashback trojan infected 600,000 Macs over the last year. We’ve been following Flashback closely, and Apple started waging its war on the botnet earlier this month. After releasing two security updates and one final tool to remove Flashback from infected Macs, Apple has nearly killed Flashback once and for all.

According to new research from Norton Symantec research, Flashback now infects around 140,000 Macs. That’s a significant drop considering Apple’s removal tool was only released 4 days ago.

Why Intel Says Your Next Macbook Pro May Have A Retina Display [CultCast Discussion]

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Episode 8 of The CultCast is in iTunes now, and if you’re itching for a new Macbook Pro, you’re not going to want to miss it.

Join us and special guest, Ars Technica Writer Chris Foresman, as we reveal the secrets of the rumored new Air-like Macbook Pro, and explain why Intel says it could pack a Retina Display; and Facebook just bought Instagram, is now the time to jump ship?

All that and lots more on this week’s CultCast — subscribe now on iTunes!

Apple Releases New Flashback Trojan Removal Tool For Lion Users Without Java

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Apple's newest tool nukes Flashback on your Java-less Mac.
Apple's newest tool nukes Flashback on your Java-less Mac.

Following two independent Java security updates and one last patch to detect and remove the Flashback trojan, Apple has released another software tool for getting rid of Flashback on a Mac running OS X Lion without Java installed.

Flashback is the name of a virus that was able to infect a Mac and link it up to a botnet of around 600,000 other Macs. If you’ve updated your Mac with the latest Java patch, you should be fine, but Apple has provided this new tool for safe measure to Mac users running Lion without Java already installed.

Flashfake Antivirus Tool For Mac Finds And Removes Flashback Trojan

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Whew...
Whew...

Apple recently responded to the Flashback trojan that has reportedly infected at least 600,000 Macs. The Cupertino company said that it is working on an antivirus tool to detect and remove Flashback from infected computers. Another tool called FlashBackChecker can check to see if you’re infected right now.

Russian firm Kaspersky Lab has released a free Mac antivirus tool to not only discover, but also delete Flashback from your Mac.

Scared Of Flashback? Here’s How To Disable Java On Your Mac And Stay Safe

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Kaspersky is helping Apple identify vulnerabilities in Mac OS X.
Got the Flashback spooks?

Apple has said that its working on a tool to end the notorious Flashback botnet once and for all, but there’s still the remotest chance you could get infected. Keep in mind that only around 600,000 Macs have fallen prey to Flashback, and that number is a tiny fraction of the millions of Mac users around the world. Most of the machines that have been infected already are centralized in North America.

Your Mac is completely up to date and you’ve already checked to see if you’re infected by the Flashback trojan. If everything is squared away and you’re not infected already, here’s how to ensure there is zero chance you’ll get infected while you wait for Apple to save the day.

Apple: We’re Working On Software To Find And Kill The Flashback Trojan

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Apple has crippled Flashback significantly, and the number of infected users is dropping rapidly.
Get it? It's a trojan and Apple.

A Mac trojan called Flashback resurfaced in the news over the last week or so after it was revealed that 600,000+ Macs were infected by the nefarious botnet. We’ve showed you how to see if you’re infected by Flashback, and Apple has released two updates already to patch the malware.

Apple is about to get into the antivirus business, as the company has said that it is working its own tool for you to detect and remove Flashback once and for all. The folks in Cupertino will also be working with ISPs around the globe to hunt down the source of this botnet and kill it at the root.

FlashBackChecker Is The Quickest And Easiest Way To See If Your Mac’s Infected By Flashback Trojan

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Forget confusing Terminal commands; Flashback Checker is the quickest and easiest way to detect the Flashback trojan.
Forget confusing Terminal commands; Flashback Checker is the quickest and easiest way to detect the Flashback trojan.

The infamous Flashback trojan has now infected more than 600,000 Macs worldwide. Apple has issues two Java updates in an effort to patch the vulnerability in Mac OS X, but unfortunately for some, it was just too late.

We’ve already published instructions on how to see if you’re Mac’s infected by using Terminal commands, but there is an easier way. FlashbackChecker is a simple piece of software that will quickly tell you whether or not your Mac is infected.