The CIA's new headquarters in McLean, Virginia. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Although Google’s Android dominates the worldwide smartphone market, the CIA concentrated on Apple’s iOS because of its popularity among global elites, WikiLeaks reports.
The huge trove of leaked CIA documents, codenamed “Vault 7” and released Tuesday by WikiLeaks, reveals that the CIA formed a special unit called the Mobile Development Branch (MDB) to infect smartphones. And within that unit, Apple’s iOS was a prime target.
Why buy healthcare when you can eat an iPhone? Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Are you unable to afford your new health insurance premiums now that Obamacare might be going away? Well, according to Rep. Jason Chaffetz, you should trade in your iPhone.
The GOP’s replacement plan for Obamacare has been met with plenty of hate from both sides of the aisle, but in an interview this morning, Chaffetz pointed out that people just aren’t focusing on how the new law will give us all more choices.
A document in WikiLeaks' massive Vault 7 release holds a key to deciphering CIA jargon. Image: WikiLeaks
A secret document buried in WikiLeaks’ “Vault 7” data dump serves as a sort of Rosetta Stone for the CIA’s extensive hacking operations targeting iOS devices and other consumer electronics.
The entire hacking arsenal of the CIA has been dumped online and the entire internet is freaking out.
WikiLeaks dropped a data bomb Tuesday with its massive document dump, which it claims is one of the biggest in history. Secrets on how the CIA hacked devices made by Apple, Google, Samsung and Microsoft are now available for all to see. But should you start freaking out just yet?
Cult of Mac talked to a number of iOS security experts to make sense of all the new info. While it’s tempting to panic, there’s a lot more you need to know first.
Wikileaks' "Vault 7" data dump allegedly reveals CIA hacking tools used to compromise iPhones, Android phones and other devices. Image: Gordon Johnson/Pixabay
The Central Intelligence Agency has been using malware to spy on iPhone and Android users, according to the largest-ever publication of confidential documents from WikiLeaks — and the spy tools are now in the hands of others.
As part of a covert hacking program, the CIA created a “malware arsenal” and dozens of “zero day exploits” to infiltrate smartphones, tablets and even smart TVs to extract data and turn them into covert microphones.
But the agency recently lost controls of these tools. Those who have obtained them now have “the entire hacking capacity of the CIA” at their disposal, according to WikiLeaks.
The quickest and easiest way to get paid for your old devices. Photo: MyPhones Unlimited
Trying to make some easy cash? If you’ve recently upgraded devices and have an old iPhone, iPad or MacBook laying around to sell, we have your answer. By using our online buyback program, you can receive the biggest bang for your buck with the easiest trade-in program on the internet.
It takes less than two minutes to get a quote — we’ll mail you a prepaid box to send us your device, and we cut checks within 24 hours of receiving the device!
Lock in two full terabytes of super secure and convenient cloud storage. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Photos, music, documents of all kind — if you care at all about the data in your life you’re going to want to have a layer of cloud security. Whether to save space on your local drives or just to have a duplicate copy when your hard drive quits, this deal from Zoolz is a can’t miss. Right now they’re offering a full terabyte of instant backup, and a full terabyte of longer-term archive backup, totalling two full terabytes of secure cloud storage. And the best part? You can get these two terabytes of cloud storage for just $49.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.
Dr. Alexa will see you now. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Amazon Alexa’s incredible skill-set continues to expand, with medical advice the latest addition to the list.
Thanks to a partnership between Amazon and WebMD, Alexa speakers can now answer basic health-related queries that could save you a trip to the doctor’s office.
Boon, KBC, and Ulster Bank are all supported. Photo: Apple
Apple Pay is now available in Ireland with support from Boon, KBC and Ulster Bank.
Users with Visa and MasterCard credit and debit cards can use Apple Pay to pay for goods in “tens of thousands” of stores, including Aldi, Boots, Burger King, Harvey Norman and Lidl.
The rules for winning a coveted scholarship to Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference are changing this year.
Apple revealed today that it will begin accepting applications for WWDC 2017 scholarships on March 27. Getting one of the spots means you don’t have to pay the $1,599 ticket price. And for the first time ever, Apple is going to hook up student winners with a free place to stay.
We hope the iPhone looks this good. Photo: Daniel Csonth
Apple fans are anxiously awaiting the grand unveiling of the iPhone 8 which is expected to have the thinnest bezels of any iPhone ever. How Jony Ive will go about reducing the bezels is still a mystery, but one concept designer has a great idea: make the body all-glass.
In his new iPhone 8 concept, Daniel Csonth imagines how Apple could make the OLED screen double as a speaker so that there’s no ugly bezels at the top of the camera. The end result is an iPhone that looks like window into the digital world.
Lightroom Mobile from Adobe now has HDR to balance shadows and highlights in contrasty settings. Photo: Adobe
Your iPhone photos can look more spectacular than ever, thanks to an update to Lightroom Mobile that brings an HDR mode capable of capturing three RAW DNG files.
We’ll explain all the acronyms in a bit, but here’s the gist: Adobe Systems’ popular image processing app can now capture the kind of rich photographic details you previously could get only with a conventional digital camera.
The colors pop in Nyloon’s vibrant selection of Apple Watch bands crafted from ballistic nylon. Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac
Breathe new life into your Apple Watch with a cool, contemporary nylon band inspired by the original NATO watch strap. Best yet, this one won’t leave you cash-dry.
Spanish company Nyloon started with the goal of making high-quality versions of the NATO straps created by the British Ministry of Defence in 1973. The result is a line of fun, versatile and easily interchangeable nylon bands that are now flying off the shelves.
A staple of the Apple store was almost stamped out. Photo: Apple
The stellar support you get at the Genius Bar is one reason why many of us continue to buy Macs, but it almost never made it to an Apple store. Steve Jobs thought the idea was “idiotic” and told former retail chief Ron Johnson it would fail.
The iPhone 8 will be the first to get OLED. Photo: iDropNews
Apple may not put an OLED screen on every new iPhone this year, but a new report is claiming all iPhones will pack the new display tech within two years.
According to the latest rumor out of Apple’s supply chain in Asia, the Cupertino plans to double adoption of OLED panels in 2018 before going all-in in 2019.
These three versatile, tough new charging options show that the Lightning cable has evolved. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Considering how much we rely on and use various cables to connect and charge up our devices, it’s high time they learn to keep up. These three new, rugged and highly adaptable cables from Nomad represent a step in the right direction.
From a PVC-jacketed cable to a built-in battery and a universal interface for any connection type, these next-gen cables are well worth checking out.
iPhone 8 logic boards are big business right now. Photo: iFixit
Apple suppliers are investing tens of millions of dollars into the production of flexible printed circuit boards to meet inevitably strong demand for an iPhone 8 with an OLED display.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics is reportedly expanding its production plant in Vietnam at a cost of $88 million, while Interflex is expected to make a similar investment later this year to ensure steady supply.
Nintendo’s newest console was by far the hottest product. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Nintendo’s long-awaited Switch gaming console packs an surprisingly cool feature: You can use its unique Joy-Con controllers to play games on your Mac.
If you lost an audio file due to the dreaded QuickTime crash, this tip could save the day. Image: PSD.Graphics/Ste Smith
When you’re recording audio in QuickTime, there’s nothing more frustrating than a crash before you’ve had time to click Save. But all is not lost: This handy trick can help you recover lost recordings in the QuickTime app.
It might just save you a whole lot of effort. Here’s how to use it.
Not all iPhone 8 models will be created equal. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple will indeed bring OLED displays to the iPhone 8 this year, according to fresh reports out of Japan — but you’ll have to pay a premium to get your hands on one.
Sources claim the new 5.8-inch curved display will only be available with the high-end iPhone, while the more affordable 4.7- and 5.5-inch models will carry LCD panels similar to those Apple has been using since the iPhone’s introduction in 2007.
Get a 2-in-1 stand for iPhone and iPad, a pair of reinforced Lightning cables, and more in this week's best deals. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
It’s the beginning of March, a time when it’s hard to decide whether the year is moving way too fast or way too slow. However you feel about it, there’s more than enough time to review the latest at the Cult of Mac Store. This week’s a good one, with deals on a gorgeous set of over-ear Bluetooth headphones, a 2-in-1 stand ideal for iPhone or iPad, a pair of extra long and extra tough Lightning cables, and a lifetime’s access to 16 top shelf Mac apps. Read on for more details:
From a massively powerful and super slim battery to time-saving typing app and lots more, check out this week's best deals. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
While everyone’s freaking out about the state of the world, we here at the Cult of Mac Store are busy finding the best deals we can find. This week, we’ve got a single super-slim battery that can juice up anything from an iPhone to a MacBook, a full year of the uber-popular TextExpander app, a lifetime of powerful VPN protection, and a set of comprehensive courses in programming for iOS.