Here at Parallels, we would like to thank our millions of users for choosing our software, Parallels Desktop® for Mac, the #1 choice for Mac® users for over a decade. With pirated licenses on the rise in every software market, we want to encourage curious users to read this blog post thoroughly before hunting for a Parallels Desktop for Mac cracked license key. We dive into security risks and concerns and explore why users should be cautious about using a crack/torrent version of Parallels Desktop from unidentified sites—or simply put, the pirating sites. 

Are you searching for a cracked license key of Parallels Desktop for Mac? Globally, millions of users are turning to installing bootleg versions of software as more companies either increase their prices or change to a subscription model. In the software ecosystem, there has always been a dense market for pirated or cracked licenses to obtain the software illegally. While users may save a penny or two, the dangers of using pirated copies grossly outweigh the benefits. 

According to 2018 Revulytics, the top 20 software license misuse and piracy hotspots are not only in the United States, but also China, India, Russia, Germany and many more. Funny enough, there are only nine countries in the world that have no reports of unpaid software! In recent years, Google has been asked to remove over 100,000 pirated links every hour. The reality is that the market for pirated software continues to grow, regardless of efforts from software companies or search engines. 

Potential risks that users face when utilizing pirated or illegally cracked licenses for Parallels Desktop (or any macOS or Windows software) are:

• Malware – Malware is shorthand for “malicious software.” By Bullguard’s definition, it is a computer program that is designed to infiltrate and damage computers without the user’s consent. 
• Keyloggers or spyware – These are usually used in identity or financial threats. They’re designed to steal passwords or banking information. This can cause years of difficult loopholes to get your identity or financial health back up to speed.
• Ransomware – An extortion-based threat that is considered a cryptovirology because it locks a user out of software or hardware until a ransom is paid. CSOOnline outlines the 6 biggest ransomeware attacks of the last 5 years. While the commonality of this threat has gone down in recent year, ransomware is still very much considered to be a concern for both individual users and enterprise companies. 
• Viruses and worms – Kaspersky released an educational article outlining the difference between the two: “An important distinction between computer viruses and worms is that viruses require an active host program or an already infected and active operating system in order for viruses to run, cause damage and infect other executable files or documents, while worms are standalone malicious programs that can self-replicate and propagate via computer networks, without human help.”
• Bloatware – Bloatware is software that is downloaded without the user’s knowledge. It eventually utilizes hardware’s memory resources to cause a device to become so slow it is eventually unusable.

Not to mention, you also lose all future benefits of functionality, security, support and updates—and your cracked Parallels Desktop for Mac license can be disabled at any time. Almost every software company has backend intelligence to check if a license is registered, and they regularly do this check throughout the lifecycle of their product. 

The Parallels End User License Agreement states that users may use one copy of the software activated by a license key on a single instance owned, leased or controlled by the user. In accordance with the End User License Agreement terms and conditions, a Parallels Desktop retail license can only be used for activation of Parallels Desktop on a single Mac machine at a time.

Note: To use Parallels Desktop on several Mac machines, users will need to purchase the corresponding number of licenses. If you’d like to move Parallels Desktop from one computer to another, you don’t need to buy a new key. Simply uninstall the software from the Mac it’s currently installed on before installing on a new one.

If you have feedback you’d like to provide surrounding Parallels and the Parallels family of products, please reach out to us! We sincerely are open to improving our policies for global users. 

We encourage users to buy their software directly from the manufacturer or directly from authorized resellers. This directly benefits the teams of real humans who pour hard work into their product to provide an excellence experience for the end user.

If you’re looking to download a free copy of Parallels Desktop, feel free to download our 14-day trial and run Windows, Linux and other popular OSes on your Mac, without rebooting. 

The post Parallels Desktop for Mac Cracked License Key appeared first on Parallels Blog.

With macOS Catalina dropping support for 32-bit, some users may find themselves without their favorite applications. Now, macOS will warn users prior to upgrading to macOS Catalina and showcase the incompatibility:

In order to continue using your favorite 32-bit applications on macOS Catalina, the software developers will need to update the software to support 64-bit. If the software developer chooses not to do this, users can utilize a virtual machine with Parallels Desktop to run their favorite applications on their Mac.

What is a bit?

By means of Lifewire’s definition, a bit is shorthand for binary digit. In laymen’s terms, this is where you see units of measurements regarding 1s and 0s and can apply to computer networking or memory. Sometimes you’ll see the formatting as “32-bit” or “x32.” These two formats represent the same thing. 

32-bit and 64-bit operating systems

The 32-bit processor was the most popular processor used by computers until the early 1990s. Both Intel Pentium and AMD processors were 32-bit, which means Microsoft’s Windows 95, 98, and XP are all 32-bit operating systems. However, a slight shift occurred in 2003 when Microsoft released a 64-bit version of Windows, and then in 2005 shifted the internal processor to a 64-bit AMD processor.  

Microsoft Windows utilizing a more powerful processor in combination with a more powerful operating system unlocked a lot of potential with improved security, better game performance, and the ability to allocate more memory as needed. Why does this matter? Every personal computer (whether a Mac® or PC) has a 32-bit OS or 64-bit OS, and this dictates the user experience. The OS and the software used is the underlying foundation for our productivity. 

Difference between 32-bit and 64-bit CPUs

Simply put, a 64-bit processor is more capable than a 32-bit processor because it can handle more data in any given moment.

The most popular consumer reference to a x64 processor in CPUs or hardware is the Nintendo 64. Hence, the name. Personally, I always thought this was due to 64 games being released with the Nintendo 64 (haha). Nope, it’s due to the processor. Additionally, through a popular HowStuffWorks article, I’ve learned that this specific processor was a customized chip system that was named the 64-bit R4300i “Reality Engine.” (Insert an oooh and an ahhhhh here.)

What’s the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit software?

HowToGeek outlined a very helpful article: “Why are most programs still 32-bit on a 64-bit version of Windows.” It provides useful information about why users should care about the difference and how it effects their productivity. 

The biggest and most simple way to answer what the difference is between 32x and 64x software is that the 64x version will be more secure and reliable. 

How to check if a macOS application is 32-bit or 64-bit

If you’re on macOS® Mojave, it’s quite easy to see if any application on your Mac is either 32- or 64-bit. Follow this pathway:

Apple menu > About This Mac > System Report

From the System Report, scroll to Software > Applications> Select your desired Application

Depending on the applications on your Mac, you may see mostly 64-bit, some 32-bit, or all 32-bit. This is entirely dependent on your personal setup. 

How to run older 32-bit operating systems and applications on your Mac

Running older 32-bit operating systems or software on your Mac is quick and easy. With Parallels Desktop® for Mac, you can virtualize any 32-bit operating system in a virtual machine and run your needed application. 32-bit operating systems could be either macOS or Windows. For example, this is what a 32-bit macOS virtual machine looks like in Parallels Desktop:

Running a macOS virtual machine on the macOS with Parallels Desktop may seem a bit redundant, but it is absolutely necessary for users who need older 32-bit operating systems or applications. It’s also necessary for developers to code, test, and deploy without buying secondary machines. 

Downloading a free trial of Parallels Desktop is easy! Simply download the .dmg, create a new virtual machine with the operating system needed, and run the application to get started. 

The post 32-Bit vs. 64-Bit and Why It Matters appeared first on Parallels Blog.

“Hey, I like Parallels Mac Management for SCCM a lot – it’s a great way to manage both Windows and Mac endpoints in SCCM…. BUT my CIO/IT Director/Boss/Team/Board doesn’t think Endpoint management is a priority. It’s a nice to have – we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing and look at this next month/quarter/year/budget cycle.”

The kids nowadays have an acronym that they use in text messages and social media—it’s SMH. It stands for “shaking my head.” When I hear this from an SCCM admin, I’m SMH all over the place. 

Here are the facts: According to IDC, 70% of successful breaches begin at the endpoint. As of this writing, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is tracking almost 122,000 known Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) in its National Vulnerability Database (NVD), almost 5,000 of which have been opened this year! 

So what’s the big deal? Simply patch these systems and you’re good to go, right? 

Not so fast. If you’re like most companies, it takes and average of 100 – 120 days to patch a vulnerable application or OS – which is disappointing – because the probability of a vulnerability being exploited hits 90% between 40 – 60 days after discovery. That math adds up to breach. 

So…if you’re a normal IT team, you’re already behind on your patching vulnerabilities. But you’re an SCCM admin, so at least you can patch all your devices on your Windows network through SCCM-right? 

Nope. 

As of right now, Windows only controls 69% of the desktop market share. Apple OS X controls almost 20%! And whether those Macs are CYOD, BYOD or LMNOP, they’re hanging off your WIFI’s and dialing into your remote sessions and VPNing into your intranets! 

You cannot just ignore them! 

So you can’t get at these Macs via SCCM. Are you going to ask 20% of your end users to “bring their Macs to IT” to do patch updates?

Don’t take a sip of that coffee yet—because it gets worse. 

OK, so let’s say you recognize you need to manage the Macs on your network,  and let’s say you convince Mac users to bring their Macs in (you should be buying a lottery ticket if this happens). Now it’s time to update and patch. It should be just as simple as updating a Windows 10 patch, right? 

Wrong.

Mac users are incredibly fickle about their OS and there are many Mac OS out there that are not “current.” 

Let me ask you, what’s the percentage of your Windows network that isn’t Windows 10? I’m guessing it’s in the single digits. 

Look at the breakout of your Macs.

Which version OS patches are you going to deploy? Only 44% of Mac endpoints have the latest OS—Mojave—running.  

Imagine trying to patch Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7 and Windows Vista! At the same time! 

All of a sudden endpoint management doesn’t seem like a project you can just push off because your boss/your team/your board/Santa Claus doesn’t think it’s a “priority.” 

Listen I get it—endpoint management isn’t sexy or exciting. It’s not hybrid-cloud, Augmented Reality-enabled, Internet of Things, Sustainable Artificial Intelligent Sharks with laser beams on their foreheads! 

It’s just imaging, patch management and endpoint security. Basic vanilla stuff. 

It’s stuff you handle right now within SCCM for your Windows devices. 

Yeah, it’s boring.  

But you know what’s NOT boring?

This: When your CFO calls your IT helpdesk from the Denver airport at 5 p.m. on a Friday and leaves this voicemail “Hey, I left my MacBook in the Uber and I have to catch a flight and all the financials from Merger and Acquisition meeting are on it! Can you, like, delete all that stuff? Because if it gets out, it could tank the company stock and put us all out of work. Gotta go—bye!” 

If that were a PC, you could just WIPE/LOCK it in SCCM, turn it into a brick and go home for the weekend. 

But it’s not a PC. 

Feel that trickle of excitement, the feeling of your weekend being ruined? Nothing like an all-hands fire drill to add some EXCITEMENT to the boring old IT department. 

Wouldn’t it be nice (and boring) if you could treat a Mac in SCCM just like you treat a PC?

So here’s my “sales pitch:” Endpoint management IS a priority. As an IT professional, it should be your first priority. If you need help convincing your boss/team/board/Easter bunny otherwise, click the link and I’ll meet with you to help you make your case. 

Parallels Mac Management for SCCM can be demo’d and trialed in your production or test environment. You can even TRIAL IN A BOX. For $3.75 per Mac/per month, you can manage your Macs in SCCM, where you already have invested IT budget, time and training, so you can stop dreaming and start planning all the other cool sharks with laser beam IT projects we talked about earlier.

Endpoint Management IS a Priority – so let me help you treat it as such. 

The post Endpoint Management IS a Priority appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Mac® computers have always enjoyed a vague reputation of being more secure against typical threats than Windows clients. This may be true for run-of-the-mill viruses and malware, but Mac users still encounter substantial risks caused by Trojans, phishing, and physical access to corporate devices. Read on for a couple of fundamental security measures that admins should apply to corporate Mac clients:

Safe encryption for everything: FileVault 2

FileVault® is the Apple on-board encryption tool that every admin should know about. FileVault 2 is the latest implementation of this encryption mechanism. It secures the system volume (known as Start Volume in Apple jargon) using AES-XTS encryption with 128-bit blocks and a key of 256 bits. Once FileVault 2 is enabled, the user is forced to log on using their user password after every device startup. Only then will the device’s hard disk be decrypted and the user logged on.

Admins are advised to enable FileVault immediately when rolling out new systems. Parallels® Mac Management for Microsoft SCCM allows admins to do just this—and it cannot be done with SCCM alone. This ensures that no device will be let loose in the organization in an unencrypted state. This way, loss and theft of MacBook® laptops ceases to be a hazard for sensitive company data.

Configure a VPN

IT should determine permanent VPN settings—and not only for mobile employees and trusted contractors who work from home. Admins can configure the profiles of Mac devices within the organization to connect via the corporate VPN automatically (“always on”). Moreover, admins can configure this VPN connection in a way that all traffic will flow via this encrypted path (“send all traffic”). This will allow mobile employees to be connected securely in public WiFi networks or when using their private access points.

Automatic update distribution

Admins are advised to implement orderly patch management for corporate Mac computers, as well as keep all clients up to date and as free as possible from known vulnerabilities at all times. To enable this, SCCM offers maintenance windows. Admins can activate these under Device Collections > Properties > Maintenance Windows. Choose the appropriate device group and a suitable time interval and activate for “software updates.”

Learn more about how to manage Mac devices like PCs with Parallels Mac Management for Microsoft SCCM in our weekly Webinars. Register now for free!

The post Three Tips for Secure Mac Deployments appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Investigators found that the fire was entirely preventable. The oily rags, locked doors, and poor working conditions that were found to be the cause, were all easily correctable and within the purview of the owners of the factory. 

The tragedy brought widespread attention to the dangerous sweatshop conditions of factories all over the country, and led to a series of city, state, and federal laws and regulations enacted to better protect the safety of workers. 

What does this story have to with endpoint management and date breaches? 

Recently, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released a staff report on Equifax’s data breach that affected 143 million U.S. consumers on September 7, 2017.  The committee concluded that the situation that led to the breach was easily correctable, meaning the loss of authenticating details, such as birthdates and social security numbers of more than half of all American consumers was entirely preventable. 

The Triangle fire was about locked doors, but the Equifax breach was about open ones, specifically, systems that were open and not patched, per software manufacturer recommendations. Patches that were easily accessible and downloadable by software users and IT departments, including Equifax’s own IT department. 

The committee concluded that Equifax knew of the potential security risk posed by unpatched systems, but did nothing. The committee further suggested that US corporations adopt a national data security standard, with civil and criminal penalties for failure to adhere to standards. 

You might be saying, “we’ll never get Congress to pass national data breach standards.”  But, the issue might be too large to ignore:

• 3 billion Yahoo accounts compromised in 2013
• 145 million eBay users compromised in 2014
• 80 million health records stolen from Anthem in 2015
• 57 million driver and customer data comprised from Uber in 2016
• 143 million users data comprised from Equifax in 2017
• 500 million customer records stolen from Marriott in 2018

We know this doesn’t end with the Marriott breach. There will be more data breaches to come, with voters now calling their representatives and demanding change.

In 2019, the House of Representatives will have a new majority. The Democratic Party will control the gavel, a party that advocates for consumer protection and traditionally supports more business regulation.  

National data security standards are coming, but you don’t have to wait to take action: 

• Are there unmanaged endpoints in your network? 
• Are your system patches up to date, for both PC and Mac? 
• Do you know how many Mac computers are on your network? 
• Do your Mac users manage updates and patches themselves?

Parallels wants to talk to you about Mac endpoints and potential data breach, and how we can help. 

Schedule a time today: 

Endpoint Management for Mac—Primer

The post How a Factory Fire in 1911 Relates to Endpoint Management and Data Breaches in 2018 appeared first on Parallels Blog.