691: EWS Deprecation, Apple Mail/Calendar Issues, and a Jamf Conference Misadventure

Sam and Jerry record an episode of Command and Control Power without Joe, briefly discussing hiking safety, then focus on Microsoft Exchange Web Services (EWS) deprecation affecting Apple Mail on macOS and the ethical question of proactively extending EWS via PowerShell for former clients; they extended it for a few Apple Mail–using customers but wouldn’t change settings for non-clients. They describe difficult troubleshooting when business addresses were previously used for personal Microsoft 365 accounts, requiring Keychain resets and, for Apple Calendar sync issues, removing Apple Internet Accounts data. Sam notes quirks with Microsoft passkey QR logins leaving the phone camera active, shares an embarrassing “good Samaritan” story at JNUC, highlights Jamf’s AI governance tool, and recounts fixing his own Jamf enrollment by disabling SIP and repairing configuration profile folders before re-enrolling. They also discuss syncing the macOS Downloads folder via iCloud, cautious AI permissions, and AI’s usefulness and risks.

00:00 Recording Setup

00:40 Welcome And Missing Joe

01:22 Bear Safety Talk

04:13 EWS Deprecation Ethics

08:37 PowerShell Fixes And WhatIf

11:28 Microsoft Credential Hell

17:05 Apple Calendar Exchange Bugs

20:23 Passkeys QR Camera Quirk

21:33 JNUC Trip And Water Bottle

25:43 Jamf Keynote And AI Governance

26:43 Jamf Cloud And Roles

27:38 Jamf Life Updates

28:29 JNUC Meetup Talk

29:10 Patch And Bird Suit

30:51 Mascot Movie Tangent

32:19 MDM Profile Meltdown

37:33 Remote Support And Sync

40:57 Syncing Downloads Hack

44:21 Finder Mail Power Tips

45:29 AI Permissions And Risks

52:08 Wrap Up And Rental Car

54:15 Credits And Goodbye

690: AI-Powered PowerShell, and Carrier Trade-In Traps

Joe and Jerry discuss using iPhone built-in Background Sounds (rain/white noise) and Joe’s reliable Shortcuts automation: when power connects, if the time is after 9:55 PM or before 6:15 AM and audio isn’t already playing (checked via the third-party Actions app), set rain sound and volume and enable it; Siri’s shortcut generation was buggy, while Gemini helped produce working logic. They swap notes on using white noise at home and while traveling, and Joe recounts encountering a bear at night and ideas for a “bear alert” automation. They note Apple Notes lacks version history/rollback and mention the Note Export app as a workaround. Jerry describes using Claude to guide PowerShell incident response for a Microsoft 365 phishing compromise, generating reports and adding an admin-enforced outbound wire-fraud notice. They also compare Gemini/Claude/ChatGPT (including an annoying ChatGPT “pet” hotkey conflict) and praise Duolingo’s habit features. Finally, Joe explains Verizon’s AI chat helped clarify phone unlocking and trade-in financing rules versus AT&T’s device-locking and poor chat results, influencing his upgrade decision.

00:00 Show Kickoff Banter

00:23 iPhone Rain Sounds

01:42 Automating Bedtime Audio

05:44 Actions App Trick

06:20 Bear Encounter Story

10:52 White Noise Sleep Habits

13:41 Notes History Missing

17:27 Yosemite Climbing Doc

20:03 Duolingo Streak Hacks

25:00 Gemini and ChatGPT Pet

27:30 Unforgetful Reminders App

30:17 Phished Microsoft 365

31:29 Global Admin Gone Wrong

32:32 Claude Powershell Cleanup

33:08 Wire Fraud Email Disclaimer

34:25 Conversation History Scam Tactics

35:54 Best Practice Admin Accounts

37:27 Building an Incident Checklist

42:08 Proactive Audits and MFA Training

44:58 Authenticator App Switching Pitfalls

49:16 Break Glass and Defender Layers

51:08 Verizon AI vs Carrier Lock-In

53:06 Trade In Math and Unlock Policies

01:01:56 Wrap Up and Show Milestones

689: Stitches, Switches, and Sketchy Devices: A Podcast Nose Dive

Jerry describes having basal cell carcinoma removed from his nose and urges regular dermatology checkups, then shares how iOS 27 repeatedly warned him before sharing a “sensitive” stitched-and-bloody photo, even suggesting he consult a “trusted adult.” Joe discusses costly RV maintenance and how machines (including hard drives) can fail when left idle, leading into Mac maintenance routines. They debate slang like “cooked,” then talk Apple’s new iPhone lineup, including Jerry’s iPhone 13 Pro Max purchase and their mixed expectations for the first-gen iPhone Duo (weight, outer-screen constraints, camera and battery compromises) alongside improvements like cooling, battery life, and a vapor chamber. They cover Apple Watch “always listening” features, citing Gruber’s privacy rationale, and discuss practical recording/summaries for medical visits. Jerry explains how Claude helps him solve technical issues, analyze security research, navigate health insurance decisions, and produce billable security reporting; they note macOS screen sharing bug fixes and mention keychain migration and safe mode articles. They tease upcoming Patreon topics about a move and walking away from a client.

00:00 Show Kickoff Banter

00:21 Nose Surgery Story

02:30 iOS Sensitive Image Warning

04:43 Scar Care And Skin Checks

05:19 RV Maintenance Costs

06:57 Idle Vehicles And Backup Drives

07:51 Mac Maintenance Cycles

08:57 New Slang Cooked Debate

10:32 New iPhone Pro Purchase

11:09 iPhone Duo First Impressions

13:59 Upgrading From 16 Pro

15:52 Carrier Handoff And eSIM Switching

17:56 Duo Software And Fold Durability

19:26 Foldable Display Durability

20:54 Watch Always Listening Debate

23:24 Trusted Device Privacy Logic

25:53 Real World Recording Use Cases

27:43 Claude as IT Copilot

31:33 AI Summarizes Security Research

34:49 Health Insurance With Claude

39:25 Billable Security Reporting

41:45 macOS VNC Bug Takeaways

43:00 Keychain Migration Confusion

45:33 Safe Mode and Show Wrap

46:19 Patreon Tease and Goodbye

Best Of CCP: Backblaze to the Future & Proofpoint Pandemonium

Sam Valencia, Jerry Zigmont and Joe Saponare discuss working with Apple technology and clients. Drawn from their combined experience of over 20 years in the Apple Consultants Network, thaey discuss technical support issues both with the technology and working with clients.

687: Haircuts, Apple Upgrades, and UniFi Networking Lessons

Joe and Jerry chat about haircuts, travel plans to Yosemite via Reno and Lake Tahoe amid fires and crowds, and recent wildlife encounters. They discuss upgrading iPhones and frustrations about promised Apple Intelligence features, plus recurring complaints about changing chargers and Apple hardware quality, including deteriorating Apple cases and notoriously poor pre‑M1 MacBook Airs. Joe shares an anecdote about helping an elderly client set up a new Apple account on an M4 iMac while a clock loudly recited affirmations and the Lord’s Prayer during an Apple support call. They cover “technical debt” (“Schedule the maintenance or the maintenance will schedule itself”), Mac pricing for RAM/storage, John Siracusa’s choice to use an external SSD for a photo library, mixed experiences with M1 MacBook Air performance and batteries, and field benefits of newer Macs. The episode also reviews UniFi improvements (CGNAT alerts, channel optimization, rollback/Safe Ops), using Claude to analyze Wi‑Fi settings, and frustrations when AV installers build weak networks in high-end homes.

00:00 Show Kickoff

00:08 Haircut Talk

01:00 Yosemite Trip Plans

01:34 National Park Chaos

03:41 Fires and Burning Man

04:35 New iPhone Dilemma

06:10 Planned Obsolescence Debate

08:43 Case Fail and Client Rants

11:17 Clock Prayers and Apple Support

14:22 Hotline Servers Nostalgia

16:53 Tech Debt Wisdom

17:56 External SSD Storage Strategy

24:27 Storage Prices Blip

25:28 Apple Pricing Stays High

26:37 M1 MacBook Air Aging

31:15 Battery Life Upgrade Case

35:33 UniFi Keeps Improving

40:39 AI Tuning WiFi Channels

42:07 Safe Ops and Rollbacks

45:36 Network Gear Brand Talk

50:47 AV Installs Gone Wrong

54:15 Wrap Up and Sign Off

686: North Korean Remote Job Infiltration, Apple Threat Alerts, and Stopping Gift Card Scams

Joe and Sam discuss a Wall Street Journal documentary on North Korean operatives using stolen identities, AI tools, and U.S. accomplices to gain remote jobs at American companies, including schemes where U.S.-based helpers host shipped laptops for overseas workers, raising financial and data-leak risks. They note interview red flags, AI face/voice masking, and an email pitch offering a U.S. partner for a 50/50 split. Sam updates on trying FDA-approved Closee eye drops for age-related vision issues, finding partial improvement but stopping due to itching/burning and concern over past side effects. They troubleshoot Fireflies AI auto-joining meetings via default settings after easy “Sign in with Microsoft” onboarding. Joe reviews Apple threat notifications, Lockdown Mode effectiveness, verification via account.apple.com, and Consumer Reports resources. Sam outlines KnowBe4 security awareness training and shares a near-miss CEO text gift-card scam stopped by verification.

00:00 Show Kickoff

00:08 Overemployed Meets Espionage

02:04 How the Laptop Proxy Scam Works

04:41 Interview Red Flags and Tests

08:22 AI Voice and Face Spoofing

09:13 Suspicious Joint Venture Email

10:57 Eye Drops Experiment Update

14:42 Fireflies Auto Join Mystery

18:20 Apple Threat Notifications Explained

22:33 Can Attackers Fake Apple Alerts

26:42 Lockdown Mode and Best Practices

28:28 Apple Emergency Resources

29:27 Handling Hard-to-Assess Clients

32:56 Jamf Response Playbook

34:50 Developer Mode Malware Evasion

36:46 Staying Ahead of Scams

38:10 Selling Awareness Training

39:45 KnowBe4 Campaigns and Phishing

45:10 Gift Card Scam Case Study

54:51 Phone-Level Limits and Wrap-Up