AppleA proposed North Dakota law could force Apple and Google to allow alternative app stores and payment systems on their platforms, potentially ending Apple’s tight control over iPhone apps and sparking major changes in the mobile app market.
February 16, 2021 • 6 min read
BlogA new iPhone is a ton of fun — but once you have your shiny new device up and running, you should also take a few minutes to configure it for security, privacy, and performance.
iOSA researcher at Google’s Project Zero has just announced a zero-click iOS exploit capable of wirelessly hacking nearby iPhones. As iOS exploits go, this one is a pretty big deal!
BlogJust as Apple released iOS 13.5 to the world, hackers at unc0ver announced that they had developed a jailbreak that would work on devices running iOS 11 all the way up to the brand new iOS 13.5.
In what follows, we’ll try to answer some common questions about the unc0ver jailbreak. Along the way, we’ll discuss the whys and whats of jailbreaking, and explain what it all means for average iOS users in terms of security and privacy.
What is unc0ver?
Unc0ver is a jailbreak tool for iOS devices. It can be loaded …
AppleApple has just released the new iPhone SE after months of speculation and rumors, and will begin taking pre-orders for the compact and powerful new device on Friday, 17 April. The most affordable iPhone on the market, the iPhone SE starts at just $399 (USD) for an entry-level model.
In what follows, we’ll give you an overview of the iPhone SE’s major features, including the implications for security and privacy.
Size, storage, pricing, exterior
The iPhone SE has a 4.7-inch Retina HD display, making it almost identical to the iPhone 8 physically.
The base …
April 16, 2020 • 4 min read
AppleIt’s official: iOS 13 is here, come friday. iPhone users will be able to try out all the new features announced at the WWDC keynote in June: Dark Mode, QuickPath swipe typing, a revamped Maps, and more.
In addition to all of this, iOS 13 also offers a number of security and privacy enhancements— some of which are already making waves. We’ll take you through the most important of these in the following article.
Location, location, location
iOS 13 will allow iPhone users increased control over how they share their location data—and …
September 18, 2019 • 5 min read
AppleOver the last couple of weeks, both on the Checklist and on the news section of our site, we’ve been talking about the story of the big iOS jailbreak that was announced in August. This jailbreak was unusual in that it affected the most up-to-date version of iOS available—something we hadn’t seen in quite a while.
Jailbreaking, as you’ll recall, is the process of removing Apple’s built-in safeguards and limitations on what users and software can do in iOS, essentially allowing them high-level administrative privileges that Apple never intended them to …
September 11, 2019 • 3 min read
AppleThis Tuesday, Apple held its much-anticipated media event. Here are a few key takeaways from the big day.
New iPhones!
The big news on Tuesday was, as expected, the announcement of the next generation of iPhones.
Apple is rolling out three new models: the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max. The phones are priced at $699, $999, and $1099, respectively. The new devices will be available for pre-order on Friday and for purchase in Apple Stores by 20 September.
So what’s new?
Not all that much (with a couple of important …
September 10, 2019 • 3 min read
AppleBluetooth is one of the most common wireless protocols in the world, allowing a vast range of devices to connect together for shared functionality. From playing music in your car to controlling the temperature of your flatiron, Bluetooth enables us to do many things — and as a result, Bluetooth protocols are standard on iPhones, in MacBooks, and in many other products, too. According to a new study published by researchers from Boston University, though, almost all those devices currently contain a Bluetooth flaw that can erase a user’s privacy.
Bluetooth’s …
August 2, 2019 • 3 min read
AppleOn Monday morning, Apple’s 2019 Worldwide Developers Conference kicked off in San Jose. As is tradition, WWDC began with a keynote presentation from Apple highlighting long-awaited updates, important announcements, and a vision of the road ahead.
Here’s our roundup of the biggest news from the keynote, along with a few comments on what this means for Mac security as well.
macOS
As expected, macOS 10.15 is here. Named “Catalina”, the newest version of macOS features a few important changes and a bittersweet farewell.
Goodbye iTunes
Maybe the biggest news—and something that’s been a long time …
June 4, 2019 • 8 min read
AppleThe newest array of updates from Apple has arrived, with an array of updates for a variety of products addressing numerous security concerns, some of them serious. While these updates, particularly iOS 12.3, also add several new and exciting features that are sure to please users, there are also new layers of security and fresh bug fixes going into place behind the scenes to keep iPhone users safe. Here’s how the updates break down:
iOS 12.3
More than 40 separate flaws were patched and fixed in this latest version of iOS, though …
May 20, 2019 • 2 min read
AppleIt’s here: the latest round of updates for Apple products has arrived, and it’s a doozy. This series of updates is jam-packed with bug fixes and security updates that iPhone, iPad, and Mac users should all download right away to begin taking advantage of their added safety improvements. Products included in this set of updates are as follows:
Safari (12.1) tvOS (12.2) macOS Mojave (10.14.4) macOS High Sierra (Update 2019-002) macOS Sierra (Update 2019-002) iOS (12.2)
If you are using versions prior to those listed above, it’s time to update. Check your …
April 1, 2019 • 2 min read
AppleHave you ever wondered about how hackers or security researchers can figure out where the hidden flaws in iOS lay? For years, that’s been a big question, from concerns about how companies such as Cellebrite and GrayKey found their way into iOS to how researchers were able to examine how the Secure Enclave works. Thanks to a report by Motherboard picked up by Cult of Mac; we now have a better idea of what’s behind it all: internal prototypes somehow stolen from Apple and then re-sold on the gray market.
What …
March 18, 2019 • 3 min read
AppleA strong passcode is one of the most important elements of personal security on iOS devices. While it has been some time since Apple introduced the stronger six-digit passcodes (which they now recommend), many people continue to use the four-digit PIN. According to one recent report by a security researcher, the iPhone could be vulnerable to an extremely simple brute force attack which would render those four digits useless. However, Apple has since taken the public stance that the vulnerability as described does not exist. What’s going on here?
July 3, 2018 • 2 min read
AppleAfter more than a month since the last big “patch day” for Apple products, the Cupertino company has now released to the public a new slew of updates that bring with them both new features and enhanced security. Covering everything from a new and essential update to iOS to important bug fixes in macOS, watchOS, and even Apple’s Xcode, these patches slam shut several open doors hackers might use to wreak havoc. Overall, these patches contain more than 90 fixes. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you can expect when …
April 9, 2018 • 2 min read
iOSIn a world filled with “Internet of Things” (IoT) devices, there are security holes everywhere. Apple works hard on the hardened nature of its HomeKit system and the way these third-party devices interface with Apple products. So when news broke in early December that someone had uncovered a zero-day exploit that could allow an attacker to take control of a user’s devices through the Home app, it made headlines across the web.
Though the exact details of the exploit were not released publicly and were described as tough to replicate, this …
December 20, 2017 • 2 min read