The popular streaming service Roku was hit with its second data breach this year, and the info of hundreds of thousands of users was exposed. Another Google service has met its end, we'll tell you about the newest resident of the Google graveyard. And take a deep dive into how hackers use SIM swapping attacks and how you can stop them. Show Notes: …

Both Apple and Microsoft have patched a lot of security vulnerabilities in updates to their operating systems. A new scam uses AI to put the squeeze on victims. Info from a years-old AT&T data breach has been made public and data from 10s of millions of users has been exposed. And Apple has said that the RCS messaging protocol is coming to its oper…

Apple calls old devices "obsolete" and "vintage;” what exactly do these terms mean? Alternative iPhone app stores will soon be available in Europe and new details suggest that some extra effort will be required from users. And all of Apple's M-series processors all have a newly discovered vulnerability that can't be patched without some compromises…

New MacOS updates with fixes arrived this week: we’ve got some details. Rumors of an Apple Ring compelled us to look into the market-leading Oura ring. A security setting for Apple's Journal app has generated some confusion: we’ll try to straighten things out. And the dates for Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference have been announced. We'…

"Update-a-phobia". When do potential bugs in new system software updates outweigh the safety of new security patches? Apple faces a class action lawsuit that complains about its iCloud and backup limitations. And what will the iOS landscape look like if Apple has to permit third-party app stores throughout the world? Show Notes: Twentieth Anniversa…

Apple's latest macOS release patches 68 vulnerabilities, and that's a lot. The latest GarageBand update contains a quiet and un-noted security fix. Prevent your IP address from being detected in messaging apps; why that's a good idea. And we share some speculation on future iPads that Apple might have in the pipeline. Show Notes: Apple patches secu…

iOS and iPadOS updates bring security fixes and changes for iPhone users in the European Union. Those changes include Alternative App Marketplaces, AKA third-party app stores, on iOS, and Apple’s approach puts user security at risk. Show Notes: Update now: iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 fix at least 2 zero-day vulnerabilities iOS 17.4 brings changes to i…

Stealer malware continues to spawn variants, poisoning ad-search platforms and hijacking cryptocurrency wallets. How much is actually being done to detect and neutralize Stealer related wrongdoing? App subscription scams on the App Store are on the increase: what's Apple doing about it? And the Apple Car project has ended. What will Apple be workin…

A hacker group known as Wicked Panda experiences its own data breach of collected data. What exactly happens when the hackers get hacked? The US Department of Justice quietly shuts down Russian malware installed on US routers. The Signal messaging app introduces usernames to replace phone numbers in its latest beta. And Apple is giving the Music ap…

Why was Apple slow to remove a dangerous fake app copycat from the App Store? EU regulators change their tune on iMessage. Apple finally releases new media apps for Windows users. And the Vision Pro is shipping; we tried it out in an Apple Store. Show Notes: New Stealthy "RustDoor" Backdoor Targeting Apple macOS Devices Apple distributed a fake Las…

Apple attributes a hacker with a discovery of a vulnerability just after he's arrested for hacking and scamming Apple. Researchers in Cupertino have created a new AI model that assists with image editing; is it coming to Apple’s Photos app? And the Digital Markets Act takes effect in the EU soon. What differences can European iPhone users expect wh…

We take a close look at the malware that has affected the Mac, iPhone, and iPad in 2023, and highlight which types of malware are likely to be common in 2024. Show Notes: The Mac and iPhone malware of 2023 — and what to expect in 2024 Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9 is the ultimate protection and utility suite for your Mac. Download a free trial now a…

We take a look at the latest security patches released in Apple's newest operating system updates, and explains how Apple's new Stolen Device Protection feature for iPhone can keep your data safe. A popular brand of Wi-Fi router just got important security enhancements for its firmware: we’ll tell you what to check. And we have a look back at the M…

Apple issues an security patch for its Magic Keyboard. It turns out that Google Chrome's Incognito Mode is not so incognito. AppleCoin, more invoice phishing, and Amazon delivery hacks: they're all scams in this week's ScamWatch. And app sideloading is coming to iPhones in EU countries. Show Notes: Magic Keyboard Firmware Update 2.0.6 Apple Releasi…

Apple's latest response to the EU's anti-trust regulators could be a bit of a stretch. A Chinese group claims to have been able to hack Apple's AirDrop, a shocker if true. Password manager LastPass makes its passwords more secure, something experts say should have been done a long time ago. And new gear is in the spotlight as CES gets underway and …

A new Link History setting in the Facebook mobile app has a big catch buried in the small print. Some important open source software on macOS hasn't been updated by Apple despite known vulnerabilities. Stealer malware and session cookie theft continues to be a problem in the new year. And we have a look back at some of the security stories we cover…

The Apple Watch gets a reprieve, for a short time anyway. Japan is following the EU's lead by considering a law forcing Apple to allow sideloading on iPhones. Auto manufacturers are already announcing next generation CarPlay features. And we discuss reports of a rumored sooner-than-later release of Apple's new Vision Pro. Show Notes: Urgent: New Ch…

Two Apple Watch models are no longer for sale in the US. We'll tell you why. macOS and iOS got fixes in some fast updates this week. A quick how-to on removing your posts from social media services, and some tips on dictation and Predictive Text, both of which have been improved in the latest Apple operating systems. Show Notes: Apple is reportedly…

New updates for Apple's operating systems contain security fixes and new features. But a few promised new features didn't make it this trip. And we have a discussion about messaging on Android. Should Apple provide an iMessage app for Android? Show Notes: Messenger is finally getting end-to-end encryption by default Beeper Mini is broken, with iMes…

Fake loan apps aren't getting removed from the Apple App Store fast enough, and scammers continue to prey on users. Push notifications can be hacked to grab your personal information; we explain how it's being done by government agencies. And we take a look at a newly discovered technique that can fool users of Apple's Lockdown Mode. Show Notes: Ex…

The Chrome browser just got another update with security patches for serious vulnerabilities. A new Bluetooth vulnerability has been discovered that could allow hackers to listen in on your personal audio. And how much personal information are you actually transmitting when you share your contact info using Apple's Name Drop feature? Show Notes: Go…

RCS, the messaging protocol used by Android, is coming to the Apple iPhone. How will it affect your messaging habits? The Nothing phone we talked about last week has failed miserably. And alarmingly. And new Apple patents suggest some interesting new iPhone features that can prevent spying. Show Notes: Apple extends Emergency SOS via satellite for …

Has Apple dropped the ball on providing a security patch for a popular macOS command line too? A user receives a counterfeit phone instead of an iPhone, but in a way that even Houdini might have had trouble making happen. And some tips on shopping for tech devices safely and securely during Black Friday sales. Show Notes: Apple neglects to patch mu…

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 m…

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 MacB…

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…

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 wil…

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 conte…

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 uti…

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 updat…

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…

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 o…

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 ins…

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: Unders…

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 …

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 Appl…

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 a…

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 …

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 M…

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:…

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…

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…

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 Com…

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 URL…

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 A…

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 …

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 …

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 “ra…

New top-level domains use common file extensions, and this could lead to confusion, and dangerous downloads. Apple announces a new personal voice modeling feature. And Google warns dormant users: log in, or get shut out. Show Notes: New ZIP [and MOV] domains spark debate among cybersecurity experts CVE-2023-26818 - Bypass TCC with Telegram in macOS…

The FBI has shut down servers for Snake malware, which we wrote about back in 2017. Apple's lockdown mode has been found to prevent some serious malware attacks. And Apple is testing the water with app subscriptions for two of its pro apps on the iPad. Show Notes: Snake Malware Ported from Windows to Mac (Intego 2017 article) U.S. and Allies Identi…