Apple has updated many of its operating systems, but there don't seem to be any security fixes. Can we be sure? We also discuss BlueNoroff hackers, Google deleting unused accounts, and new AI tools, including Grok, and how there are already scam apps pretending to offer access to it. Show Notes: Apple releases macOS Sonoma 14.1.1, iOS 17.1.1, and more—but no security updates BlueNoroff hackers backdoor Macs with new ObjCShellz malware There is no Apple Silicon iMac 27-inch coming The...

Apple has updated all its operating systems again, the company introduced new M3 chips and upgraded MacBook Pros and iMacs, and we discuss how Apple's product line is not to big, not too small, just about right. Show Notes: Apple releases macOS Sonoma 14.1, iOS 17.1, and more, with security updates Apple Introduces M3 Family of Chips, Upgrades MacBook Pro and iMac Behind the scenes at Scary Fast: Apple’s keynote event shot on iPhone and edited on Mac Here's why Apple is flying a pirate...

Apple is finally planning to kill off iTunes on Windows, Amazon now offers passkeys for logins, and Google Chrome will allow users to hide their IP addresses; just like Apple's iCloud Private Relay. Show Notes: French authority leaks iOS 17.1 launch date: “by October 24 at the latest” “Scary Fast” Apple Event on October 30 (Twitter link to thoughts by Mark Gurman and Ming-Chi Kuo on what will be presented next week) Apple Is Finally Killing Off iTunes – for Real This Time Apple...

Apple releases a new Apple Pencil, which joins the Apple Pencil and the Apple Pencil in the company's product line. If you think this is confusing, take a look at the current iPad models available. Apple needs to simplify. We also discuss the week's security news. Show Notes: French authority leaks iOS 17.1 launch date Chrome on iOS and Android will now detect URL typos Josh’s bad experience with Adblock Plus’s typo correction feature in 2012 Signal responds to “vague viral reports...

We look at DragonEgg malware for Android, which has a link to some Mac surveillanceware, and is a watering hole. Google is now requiring passkeys for personal accounts. And the curl command line tool has a serious vulnerability that Apple needs to patch. Show Notes: About the security content of iOS 17.0.3 and iPadOS 17.0.3 About the security content of iOS 16.7.1 and iPadOS 16.7.1 curl 8.4.0 resolves a high-severity vulnerability Researchers Link DragonEgg Android Spyware to LightSpy...

We look at the top 10 new features in macOS Sonoma, then take a closer look at two of the features that we think everyone should check out. Show Notes: Top 10 New Features in macOS Sonoma How to Use Web Apps in macOS Sonoma, and Why You Should How to Use Desktop Widgets on macOS Sonoma Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9 is the ultimate protection and utility suite for your Mac. Download a free trial now at intego.com, and use this link for a special discount when you're ready to buy.

Apple has released macOS Sonoma, and we discuss how to prepare your Mac to upgrade to this new operating system. We also talk about the dozens of security fixes included in macOS Sonoma, and how one file format that has been supported on the Mac for decades is going away. Show Notes: Apple releases macOS Sonoma 14, Safari 17 with 60+ security updates Apple patches Predator-exploited vulnerabilities for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS PostScript’s sudden death in Sonoma Is My Intego Software...

Apple has released iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, along with new versions of operating systems for the Apple Watch, Apple TV, and HomePod. We discuss some of our favorite new features. We also look at radiation fears in France for the iPhone 12, and we examine why Apple may want to build a stock trading service into its devices. One correction: Standby Mode doesn't require a MagSafe charger, but just needs to be plugged in and on its side. Show Notes: Chromebooks will get 10 years of automatic...

This week, Apple introduced new Apple Watch and iPhone models. We look at all the new features, and we discuss recent Apple security updates to older operating systems, new Mac malware, and patches to Chrome and Firefox for serious vulnerabilities. Show Notes: Apple patches 2 actively exploited vulns in macOS Ventura, iOS 16, watchOS 9 A plethora of Pegasus patches: Chrome, old Apple OSes get updates New 'MetaStealer' malware targets Intel-based macOS systems Everything Apple announced...

SMS is a popular text messaging system, but it's not secure. We take a deep dive into how SMS works, and how to use it. We also look at six features of macOS that you may never have discovered. Show Notes: 6 Cool macOS Features You Probably Don’t Know About Take a Memo: Ten Tips for Successful Voice Dictation What is SMS? How It works, why it’s insecure… and why we still need it Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9 is the ultimate protection and utility suite for your Mac. Download a free...

Apple is a bit slow in deleting fraudulent apps from its App Store, but they are catching up. Meta says it has disrupted Spamoflauge, a major Chinese disinformation network. And the UK wants to end end-to-end encryption for messaging apps; does this mean the government will have to approve security updates? Show Notes: USB-C and Thunderbolt: Understanding Ports and Cables for Macs and iPads Apple removes fraudulent loan apps from App Store after hundreds of thousands of downloads Meta...

Most iOS apps don't mention security updates in their release notes. We look into this, and suggest that Apple may have some work to do. We also discuss a small macOS update, smart ring technology, and the Batterygate class action lawsuit payouts. Show Notes: Apple released yet another non-security patch: macOS Ventura 13.5.1 No more macOS Big Sur updates 10-month zero-day vulnerability disclosed: macOS App Management vulnerability illustrated Apple's defense against apps vandalizing...

A banal Mac app to granularly adjust Light Mode and Dark Mode was bought out by a shady company, and enlists Macs in a botnet. A new Intel CPU vulnerability may affect older Macs. And a lot of LinkedIn accounts have been hacked; we offer some suggestions on how to protect your account. Show Notes: Apple Security Update info Video of "Join This Apple TV?" iPhone alerts that kept appearing at DEF CON Downfall This $70 device can spoof an Apple device and trick you into sharing your...

There's a lot of news about Google this week. Chrome will move to weekly security patches, because of the many vulnerabilities in the browser. Google is encrypting RCS chats by default. A $5 billion lawsuit against Google highlights misunderstandings about private browsing, or incognito mode. Meanwhile, Amazon sells expired Chromebooks, and a new acoustic attack is 95% accurate at stealing your keystrokes. Show Notes: Firefox, Chrome each fix more than a dozen vulnerabilities Opera and...

Another round of Apple security updates, another instance of vaporMalware, and the UK's drive to remove end-to-end encryption for messaging apps. We also discuss the coming Cyber Trust Mark, which is a way of labelling IoT devices. Show Notes: Urgent: macOS Ventura 13.5, iOS 16.6, etc. fix major kernel vulnerability ChatGPT uncovers Mac malware on the Dark Web Apple threatens to kill iMessage & FaceTime in UK if controversial law passes 10 Ways End-to-Encryption Protects Your Data,...

Macs, iPhones, and iPads can last along time, but if they're more than a few years old, you won't get all the new features in Apple's latest operating systems. In this year's macOS Sonoma, iOS 17, and iPadOS 17, older devices will miss out on some interesting new features. And running older Macs may even be dangerous. Show Notes: When does an old Mac become unsafe to use? If Your Mac is Too Old, You Won’t Get These New Features in macOS Sonoma If Your iPhone or iPad Is Too Old, You...

There's new malware that's supposedly in the wild, but no one has samples. Is it a threat? We also look at WormGPT, the evil twin of ChatGPT, Apple's re-released Rapid Security Response, and Apple's new ad about security and privacy features. Show Notes: Rapid Security Response iOS 16.5.1 (c), iPadOS 16.5.1 (c), or macOS Ventura 13.4.1 (c) WormGPT: New AI Tool Allows Cybercriminals to Launch Sophisticated Cyber Attacks ShadowVault is the latest Mac data-stealer malware, reportedly Apple...

Apple issued a rapid security response, to patch a vulnerability that has been exploited in the wild, and had to pull it a few hours later. We also discuss Meta's Threads, more Scamazon issues, and, for our 300th episode, we look at how the security and privacy landscape has changed in the six years of this podcast. Show Notes: If you applied Rapid Security Response iOS 16.5.1 (a), iPadOS 16.5.1 (a), or macOS Ventura 13.4.1 (a) Threads is Instagram’s Twitter; Here’s how to manage your...

Meta's Twitter competitor Threads has launched, and with it comes the same privacy risks as with the company's Facebook and Twitter. Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner, and we explain why that cheap iPhone might not be a good deal. And US carmakers are snarfing up data from Bluetooth connected phones. Show Notes: Firefox to end macOS Mojave, Windows 7/8 updates—Here’s why that’s a good thing Meta is launching “Threads, an Instagram app” (a Twitter competitor) on July 6 *Note: a...

AI bots make things up, and the web is at risk of becoming overloaded with low-quality articles. Some US military have been receiving unsolicited smartwatches; they have been warned not to turn them on. And a bill in the UK threatens to end end-to-end encryption. Show Notes: Tour de France Tour de France Unchained Silo on Twitter iOS 17 Expands Communication Safety Worldwide, Turned On by Default Turn your phone off every night for five minutes, Australian PM tells residents CID...

JokerSpy malware targets Macs, Apple announces passkey support for Apple IDs, new private browsing features in Safari delete tracking information, and Apple releases a slew of security updates for current and older operating systems for all its devices. Show Notes: Apple's Safari Private Browsing Now Automatically Removes Tracking Parameters in URLs JokerSpy malware: New Sophisticated Toolkit Targeting Apple macOS Systems SysJoker: Cross-Platform Backdoor Malware for Mac, Windows, and...

Apple's forthcoming operating systems have many new features to enhance security and privacy. We look at some of these, and we talk about text scams, Minecraft mods, and how 5G hasn't lived up to the hype. Show Notes: Work has already begun on OpenCore Legacy Patcher for macOS Sonoma Mr. Macintosh Text Scams Cost US Consumers $330 Million In 2022 Alone, Says FTC “Clickless” iOS exploits, “Triangulation” malware that infected Kaspersky employee iPhones New tool scans iPhones for...

We look at what Apple presented at this year's worldwide developers conference. We discuss the key features in macOS Sonoma, iOS 17, and iPadOS 17, and we talk a bit about Apple's new Vision Pro AR/VR headset. We also discuss some recent Chrome vulnerabilities. Show Notes: There’s another actively exploited vulnerability in Chromium-based browsers 34 more malicious extensions in Chrome Web Store Fake invoice scams: Norton, McAfee, PayPal, and more Geek Squad ones too Apple WWDC...

Apple's Worldwide Developer Conferences launches on Monday, and we discuss what to expect. We also talk about RomCom malware, PyPI 2FA, Hot Pixels (which may not be so hot) and other malware and vulnerabilities. Show Notes: Apple WWDC macOS Names that Apple has Registered but Not Used Yet US govt banned NSO’s Pegasus, but said to buy rival spyware Paragon Graphite RomCom malware spread via Google Ads for ChatGPT, GIMP, more Legit app in Google Play turns malicious and sends mic...

A new hacking tool, BrutePrint, can unlock lots of smartphones, including some iPhones with Touch ID. Router infections can be hard to remove, and we discuss why Apple might have gotten out of the Wi-Fi business. And we take a close look at whether it's safe to use an iPhone, if it can no longer run the latest version of iOS. Show Notes: Typing “rash” in Safari may cause a crash Urgent Patches: macOS Ventura 13.4, iOS 16.5 fix 3 actively exploited vulns Here’s how long it takes new...