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Category: Security

Adam Engst 48 comments

How to Identify iPhone Apps That May Contain Location-Tracking Ads

Adam Engst explains how to determine whether any apps on your iPhone may have been unintentionally sharing your location with data brokers by relying on ads from the real-time bidding ecosystem.

Adam Engst 15 comments

Apple Updates Keep Malicious Web Content in the Sandbox

Apple has released operating system updates to address a serious WebKit vulnerability that surfaced 14 months ago. The latest version of this vulnerability also affects Google Chrome.

Glenn Fleishman 81 comments

Apple Disables Advanced Data Protection in the UK

The United Kingdom has secretly demanded that Apple enable backdoor access to all iCloud data stored by any user worldwide. In apparent response, Apple has disabled its higher-grade iCloud protection for UK users, although it is illegal for the company to admit that.

Adam Engst 33 comments

Security Updates for macOS 15.3.1, watchOS 11.3.1, and visionOS 2.3.1

Apple’s latest updates for macOS, watchOS, and visionOS focus on resolving undisclosed vulnerabilities. Install them sooner rather than later.

Adam Engst 3 comments

iOS 18.3.1, iPadOS 18.3.1, and iPadOS 17.7.5 Block USB Restricted Mode Attack

Apple has released iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1 to patch a vulnerability that disables USB Restricted Mode. While the risk is low for most users, high-profile targets like activists and journalists should update immediately.

Adam Engst 13 comments

Is Your PIN Easy to Guess?

In the latest installment of “People Are Bad at Security,” reporters from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation use a heatmap to illustrate the prevalence of 29 million PINs from the Have I Been Pwned? database.

Adam Engst 42 comments

Apple’s January 2025 OS Updates Enhance Apple Intelligence, Fix Bugs

Apple has released its third major operating system update, including macOS 15.3 Sequoia, iOS 18.3, and iPadOS 18.3. These updates improve the Apple Intelligence notification summaries, enhance Visual Intelligence for iPhone 16 users, bring Genmoji to the Mac, and add repeated operations to the Calculator app. They also fix a zero-day security vulnerability.

Adam Engst No comments

Beware Exploits of WhatsApp’s Linked Devices Feature

WhatsApp’s Linked Devices feature adds convenience but can also pose significant security risks. Learn how domestic abusers exploit this feature and discover how you can protect your account from unauthorized access.

Adam Engst 153 comments

It’s Time to Move On from Bootable Backups

Adam Engst investigates how macOS 15.2 Sequoia introduced a bug in Apple Software Restore that breaks bootable backups of M-series Macs. He provides guidance for adapting your backup strategy to accommodate a world without bootable backups.

Adam Engst No comments

Explaining the Latest Online Scams on CCATP

Adam Engst and Allison Sheridan delve into the latest online scams, offering practical tips to help you steer clear of these digital traps.

Adam Engst 53 comments

OS X.2 Updates Boost Apple Intelligence and More

Apple’s December 2024 updates bring substantial changes across the company’s ecosystem, from new Apple Intelligence features to Mail categorization, enhanced Find My item sharing capabilities, and natural language Apple Music searches.

Adam Engst 10 comments

Apple Takes Over iCloud Passwords Add-On for Firefox

Although there are no details about the transition, Apple has taken over the previously independent iCloud Passwords add-on for Firefox. The move enhances the company’s password management services for users outside its ecosystem.

Adam Engst 11 comments

Beware Obituary Scam Sites and Fake iPhone Security Warnings

After a TidBITS reader encountered security warnings on an obituary site, Adam Engst investigated: both the site and the warnings were fake, aiming to trick people into downloading system cleaner or VPN apps. Learn how to identify such scams.

Glenn Fleishman 4 comments

Find My Will Let You Share Lost Item Locations with Anyone—Including Airlines

The upcoming iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS 15.2 Sequoia releases, now in public beta, let you securely share a link to a lost AirTag or other Find My item with anyone. You’ll also soon have a special way to share tracking links directly with airlines when your luggage is missing or delayed.

Adam Engst 35 comments

Apple Updates Block Two Zero-Day Security Vulnerabilities

Apple has released updates for its primary operating systems—including the previous versions of iOS and iPadOS and two previous versions of macOS—to address a pair of critical security vulnerabilities that have been exploited in the wild. Update soon.