security - page 7

Apple targets Android switchers in latest series of simple ads

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Apple
iPhone has better support.
Photo: Apple

Apple is hoping to convince Android users to switch to iPhone with its latest set of short ads that highlight some the iPhone’s best features.

Five new ads were published by Apple this afternoon covering everyone from ease-of-use to customer support. Most of the ads are less than 15 seconds long and similar in style to the simple campaign Apple launched last year.

Watch all five ads right here:

Apple delays big new iOS features to focus on stability in 2018

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iPhone X wireless charging
Apple's putting reliability over big new features.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is changing up its plans for this year’s mobile software, a new report claims.

As a result of a recent string of criticisms concerning security and quality issues (outlined by my colleague Killian Bell here), Apple will now reportedly delay some of the big iOS features it had planned to 2019.

Apple adds new privacy icon to iOS 11.3

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iPhone X laying down
iOS 11.3 makes iPhone more secure.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

iOS 11.3 landed with a bunch of big features this morning but it looks like Apple added a few small surprises not mentioned in its preview, including a new feature that makes it easier to tell when apps are trying to access your personal data.

How to speed up your iPhone if the Spectre patch slows it down

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ghosts
Ghosts are a bit like spectres.
Photo: Sean MacEntee/Flickr CC

Spectre is the worst kind of security flaw. Not only do the partial fixes not even protect against attacks, but they also slow down your iPhone, or other device. But things aren’t quite as bad as they seem. You can take steps to speed up your iPhone once again, and one of the fixes not only makes the web faster, but also fixes Spectre’s biggest attack vector.

Apple already fixed Intel’s massive chip flaw in macOS update

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intel
Intel says its chip flaw isn't a flaw.
Photo: Thomas Hawk/Flickr

The critical design flaw discovered in the way Intel CPUs process information has reportedly already been fixed by Apple in a recent release of macOS.

Apple’s fix came out at the beginning of December with the release of macOS 10.13.2. But according to one developer, the company has a few additional patches for Intel’s blunder in a current beta build.

Majority of first responder apps may have gaping security flaws

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Department of Home Security 2
The Department of Homeland Security carried out the investigation.
Photo: Department of Homeland Security

First responder apps may help save your life, but they’re in drastic need of a security overhaul, a new report the Department of Homeland Security says.

Released this week, the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate “Securing Mobile Applications for First Responders” report said that discovered glaring security flaws on almost every app that it examined.

Punish Website only blocks ads on sites you blacklist

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punish website
This Safari content blocker only shuts down sites you personally blacklist.
Photo: Cult of Mac/ Salavat Khanov

Most ad blockers block everything. You download the app, tell Safari to use it, and then no longer need to worry about sites serving bandwidth-burning scripts that leech your personal information.

But for many people, the blanket approach of nuking everything is too much. You may instead prefer to block some bad actors, but let most sites serve ads — the ads pay the writers who write for the sites, after all. That’s where the bluntly named Punish Website app comes in. The new app comes configured to block nothing, letting you add the sites you hate to your own personal blacklist.

Download iOS 11.2.1 immediately for crucial HomeKit fixes

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homekit
HomeKit's huge security flaw has been fixed.
Photo: Apple

Apple released a brand new iOS 11 update for the iPad and iPhone this morning that makes some big fixes to HomeKit.

iOS 11.2.1 comes a little over a week after Apple dropped iOS 11.2 on the public bringing Apple Pay Cash and a host of bug fixes. The new update is being released along with tvOS 11.2.1 to restore some HomeKit functionality after Apple patched a bug server-side earlier this week.

Moon is a smart home security camera that defies gravity

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Moon camera
Moon has 360-degree vision.
Photo: 1-Ring

Moon is the world’s first smart home security camera that levitates for 360-degree vision.

Without any blind spots, it can keep watch over an entire room, with automatic rotation when movement is detected. It also keeps track of temperature and humidity, charges wirelessly, and controls other home appliances.

Camera-free security, affordable AirPower alternatives and more [Crowdfund Roundup]

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Home security without spying eyes.
Home security without spying eyes.
Photo: Point

Crowdfund Roundup bugApple’s latest devices finally support wireless charging, so why not treat yourself to a charging mat that can top up two simultaneously? Funxim looks as good as Apple’s own AirPower mat, but it will cost you considerably less.

It’s just one of the awesome ideas in this week’s Crowdfund Roundup. We’ve also got home security that doesn’t rely on cameras, an ultra-tough Apple Watch band, and more.

Point is a home security system that can’t spy on you

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Point home security
Point couldn't be easier to set up.
Photo: Minut

A home security system gives you complete peace of mind when you’re away, but at what cost? If your system relies on cameras, there’s always a worry that someone else could be watching. Not with Point.

Point is a complete home security system that doesn’t require cameras. It’s a single device that can alert you to anything unexpected using clever sensors and machine learning.

Kid unlocks mom’s iPhone X with Face ID

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iPhoeX
Spot the difference? The iPhone X can't.
Screenshot: Attaullah Malik/YouTube

Another way to circumvent the iPhone X’s Face ID security system has been discovered — but, don’t worry, it’s not going to be one that affects the overwhelming majority of users.

The Face ID “hacker” in question is the fifth-grade son of an iPhone X owner, who apparently looks close enough to his mom in appearance that the system recognizes them both as the same person.

Master your iPhone X with these tips, tricks and how-tos

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iPhone x unboxing
Fresh out of the box.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

The iPhone X is Apple’s most exciting iPhone in years. It packs an incredible portrait camera, ditches the home button so it can squeeze and iPhone Plus-sized screen into a regular-sized body, and adds Face ID.

If you want to read all about your new iPhone X, or to see what the fuss is before you purchase one, check out this roundup of all Cult of Mac’s iPhone X coverage.

iPhone X keeps your notifications secret from people who aren’t you

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iPhone x notifications face id
iPhone X hides notification previews until you look at them.
Photo: Apple

Thanks to Face ID, the iPhone X knows when its owner is looking at it, and can hide the content of your notifications until you do so. Now, if somebody else picks up your iPhone X and takes a peek at your incoming alerts, it will only see a list of the apps that have notifications for you. The content of the alerts remains hidden until you look at the screen, and Face ID expands the boxes to show you your messages.

The twist is that you can already do something very similar with Touch ID, just by changing one setting.

Face ID can be slower than Touch ID, but you can speed it up

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Face ID iPhone X
Ensure Face ID is as fast as it can be.
Photo: UrAvgConsumer

Face ID is the future, and it’s easy to see why. It’s significantly more secure than Touch ID, and it eliminates a number of big limitations. But it’s not quite perfect yet.

Those who are lucky enough to have received a unit early from Apple have discovered that Face ID is slower than its predecessor. There are some things you can do to speed it up, though.

Everything we know about iPhone X’s Face ID

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Michael Cohen Face ID
Michael Cohen was forced by a court warrant to open his iPhone with Face ID.
Photo: Apple

When the iPhone X arrives November 3, it will bring a new age of security with it.

Apple is ditching fingerprints for facial scanning when it comes to unlocking your device, thanks to the iPhone X’s all-new Face ID feature. Not all Apple fans are excited about this. But if Face ID works as well as Apple says it does, it could be the most innovative iPhone addition in years.

Here’s what you need to know about Face ID.

Up your mobile audio, photo and charging game [Deals]

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This roundup of gear and gadgets includes awesome audio, video, and charging goodies.

Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Feel like spicing up the digital dimensions of your life? If so, today is your lucky day. That’s because we’ve rounded up massive deals on top shelf accessories, from Bluetooth speakers and headphones, to an awesome digital camera and portable power pack. It’s all discounted by nearly half off or more. Plus, you can get an additional 15 percent off when you use the coupon code “SAVE15” at checkout. Read on for more details:

Why every Apple user should be using a VPN

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In this age of constant data leaks, using a VPN to protect your online identity is a must.
In this age of constant data leaks, using a VPN to protect your online identity is a must.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you think the buzz around using a VPN service these days is exaggerated hype and paranoia, think again. Never before have so many day-to-day human interactions and transactions occurred online.

Whether we’re emailing our bosses, checking in with our kids, chatting with our friends or using a plethora of apps to schedule and manage our lives, it all takes place online.