Apple
Last year, Apple announced that it was in the final stages of development for a new file system to replace the current architecture, which has begun showing its age. At this year’s WWDC, one of Apple’s major announcements was that this new “Apple File System” (or APFS) is finally ready. It’s coming to users soon with the release of macOS High Sierra, and it brings with it a host of improvements in both performance and security.
On the performance side, we can expect to see much faster disk …
July 12, 2017 •
3 min read
Apple
In mid-May, while the world was waking up to deal with the chaos caused by the WannaCry ransomware spreading over the web, Apple was making its users safer again. Released on May 15th, a new set of patches dropped for iOS, macOS Sierra, and both the El Capitan and Yosemite version of OS X. So many different fixes were implemented that it would be difficult to cover exactly what each of them accomplishes. However, of particular note in this update is the fact that ethical hackers previously identified more …
June 29, 2017 •
2 min read
Apple
At Apple’s annual WWDC event this year, the company made a host of big announcements. Chief among them was the unveiling of the next iteration of iOS, version 11. While they highlighted many of iOS 11’s new features during the conference, some other changes flew under the radar. One of those is a big tweak to the way apps on your phone can use your GPS location information. If you have ever used Uber, you may have encountered problems with its functionality if you’ve disabled location services. Uber is …
June 27, 2017 •
2 min read
Apple
iCloud users will soon need to abide by a new set of password requirements, put in place by Apple to fight against account breaches. In mid-May, Apple sent out a support email to iCloud customers, explaining the new requirements. The new requirements went into effect on June 15th.
The new policy concerns third party apps that need to access iCloud data to function. Such apps include Microsoft Outlook and other similar programs used for email, calendar management, and contacts. Apple will require app-specific passwords for such programs, instead …
June 26, 2017 •
2 min read
Apple
Apple may be retaining deleted notes in iCloud without user knowledge or consent, according to a recent blog post from security software company Elcomsoft. If you use the Notes app on your Apple device and sync the notes to iCloud, there’s a chance that Apple is holding onto the notes indefinitely—even after you delete them.
Apple has a history of holding onto iCloud data past its deletion date. In the past, Elcomsoft has been instrumental in discovering these iCloud flaws. Last year, the company found that the iCloud Photo …
June 23, 2017 •
3 min read
Apple
The government is getting more comfortable asking tech companies to hand over user data. At least, that’s the conclusion that you might draw after reading Apple’s recent “Report on Government and Private Party Requests for Customer Information” from the second half of 2016.
According to the report, Apple received about twice as many United States Government National Security Requests between July 1 and December 31, 2016, as it did from January 1 to June 30. In the first half of the year, Apple received 2,999 national security requests …
June 13, 2017 •
3 min read
Apple
The theft of smartphones is a large problem, especially with high-value items like iPhones. Whether a thief takes a phone to use or to resell, they’ll need to wipe the device first. Normally, the iPhone passcode and access control restrictions prevent that from happening. Meanwhile, a user can activate Find My iPhone to uncover its location or remotely wipe a device—a useful anti-theft mechanism, as it renders the phone useless to a thief intent on stealing your private information.
However, a freshly discovered bug in iOS versions 10.1 …
June 6, 2017 •
2 min read
Apple
Our phones today are home to dozens of apps providing both entertainment and utility. Each of these apps requests permissions from the system to access certain types of data. Apple makes it easy to see what apps use which permissions through the settings page on all iOS devices. However, how can you be sure that apps are playing by the rules?
According to a recent report by the New York Times, Uber recently landed itself in more hot water when Apple uncovered efforts to circumvent the App Store’s Terms …
May 1, 2017 •
2 min read
Apple
At the end of March, Apple released iOS 10.3 for users of the iPhone, iPad, and iPad Touch. The update was sizable, bringing multiple new features to iOS devices. However, just a week after iOS 10.3 arrived, Apple pushed out iOS 10.3.1. The latest update fixed a major Wi-Fi vulnerability that was apparently included in the original 10.3 update.
While the next big version update for the iOS platform—iOS 11—won’t arrive until the end of the summer or the beginning of the fall, iOS 10.3 was still seen as …
April 7, 2017 •
3 min read
Apple
When Apple revealed its long-awaited refresh of the MacBook line last year, the Touch Bar was touted as a major selling point. By incorporating the same sensor technology already present in the iPhone, Apple said that a wide variety of new applications were available. From rapid online purchasing to using your fingerprint to unlock your Mac, it attracted plenty of attention. Apple even discussed its efforts to secure the Touch Bar, since protecting user biometric information and payment data is of obvious importance.
However, a recent hack of …
March 30, 2017 •
2 min read
Apple
On March 7th, WikiLeaks entered the news and made waves again by releasing almost nine thousand documents they claimed came from within the US Central Intelligence Agency. Contained in the leak was a vast range of information about the CIA’s intelligence gathering practices regarding technology. The revelations included information that the agency had undertaken spying efforts through exploiting vulnerabilities in various technologies, including some “smart” TVs and mobile operating systems. Also, contained within the documents, however, were fourteen previously undisclosed flaws in iOS. Through these flaws, an attacker could …
March 21, 2017 •
2 min read
Apple
Regularly clearing the history of sites one has visited in a browser is a common habit for many users. It reduces digital clutter while also providing you with a degree of control over your privacy on the web. When you’ve cleared your history, no one can access your device and instantly see where you’ve been online. That’s the idea, at least; unfortunately, an issue within iCloud meant that user histories lingered in the cloud, sometimes including data over a year old. Though wiped from the devices, a well-informed individual …
February 14, 2017 •
2 min read