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Tag: Apple

  • Urgent warning to iPhone owners: Install iOS 18.5 immediately. Users need to take action

    iPhone users are being urged by data experts to install the new iOS 18.5 update. This update includes a crucial fix that prevents hackers from gaining access to personal content.

    As reported by The Mirror, Apple has acknowledged a significant security gap in the most recent software update. This gap could potentially allow hackers to access personal data, including photos, messages, and app information.

    Apple has acknowledged that the latest software update addresses a significant security vulnerability.

    A representative from Safe Data Storage emphasized the importance of updating devices, stating that it is one of the most crucial actions users can take to safeguard their personal information.

    The representative urged users to inform their parents, grandparents, neighbors, and anyone with an iPhone about these updates, as they are no longer optional but serve as the first line of defense against potential threats.

    The latest software fix, compatible with iPhone XS models and later, addresses a vulnerability that involves processing a maliciously crafted image. This vulnerability could lead to unexpected app termination or corrupt process memory, as per Apple.

    Apple claimed to have resolved the issue by implementing improved input sanitization. They also recommended that iOS 18.5, which includes important security fixes, be installed by all users.

    While there have been no reports of users being manipulated so far, security experts caution that such vulnerabilities tend to be targeted and misused rapidly once they become widely known.

    Safe Data Storage explained that many people mistakenly believe iPhones are immune to serious threats, but no device is immune to vulnerabilities like this. They warned that if someone sends a seemingly innocent image to a phone that hasn’t been updated, it could silently cause havoc or grant unauthorized access to private files.

    Data experts are urging iPhone users to install the latest iOS 18.5 update. PixieMe – stock.adobe.com

    Those using an iPhone XS or later are advised to update their phones as soon as possible and to assist elderly or less tech-savvy users.

    Safe Data Storage emphasized the importance of timely updates, stating that delaying them leaves vulnerabilities open. They highlighted that many people, especially grandparents and those less tech-affiliated, may not fully comprehend the significance of these updates.

    Safe Data Storage also provided simple steps to enhance iPhone security:

    Disable message previews on the lock screen:

    This prevents sensitive messages from being displayed when your phone is unattended. To change this setting, go to Settings > Notifications > Messages > Show Previews and set it to Never.

    Enable two-factor authentication for Apple ID: This adds an extra layer of security, even if someone else has your password. To activate this feature, go to Settings > [your name] > Password and Security and toggle on Two-Factor Authentication.

    Restrict app access to personal data: Many apps request access to contacts, photos, or location without it being mandatory. To modify this setting, go to Settings > Privacy and Security, review each section, and adjust permissions as needed.

  • Apple Watches are hitting the ice in latest sports push

    Apple Watches are hitting the ice in latest sports push

    Apple (AAPL) is deepening its push into sports, adding its Apple Watch to the list of its products that can be found in and around major league teams.

    The tech giant and the NHL announced on Friday that referees have been using the Apple Watch throughout the current season as a means of monitoring the game without having to take their eyes off of the action on the ice.

    The new system includes an Apple Watch Series model or Apple Watch Ultra and a specialized app that provides the refs with data like the game clock, a countdown to the end of a period, and a notification letting them know when a player is coming out of the penalty box.

    “Being able to provide the official the game clock on the wrist so [the referees aren’t] looking up, trying to find the scoreboard when [they’re] skating … was really important to make sure there’s focus on the ice and the players and the play,” said Andres de Corral, vice president of digital services at Presidio, the company behind the app.

    To ensure the refs aren’t dependent on looking at their watches, Presidio’s app provides haptic feedback patterns that vibrate for end-of-period and penalty box alerts.

    “So notifying the official, ‘10 … 3, 2, 1, there’s a 200-pound person that’s about to exit a penalty box flying at you … Careful,’” Corral said.

    A referee wears an Apple Watch during an NHL game. (Image: Getty Images)
    But can it break up a fight? A referee wears an Apple Watch during an NHL game. (Image: Getty Images) · Getty Images

    Each referee has their own NHL-issued Apple Watch. They can’t use their own personal watches while refereeing games. What’s more, the watches aren’t loaded with unnecessary apps and only get notifications from Presidio’s software. (You can’t have a referee getting Uber Eats while on the ice, after all. Or can you?)

    David Lehanski, executive vice president of business development and innovation at NHL, said the league has been working with Apple on the Apple Watch initiative for years. The pair teamed up in the past, putting iPads on teams’ benches so players and coaches could watch replays of the game in real time to figure out how to change up strategies on the fly.

    Other sports leagues also rely on Apple’s products, including MLB, which allows teams to use iPads in their dugouts so that players can get information on their latest at-bats and other game statistics. The World Surf League (WSL) also uses the Apple Watch, giving surfers information on waves and scores.

    Of course, working with sports leagues isn’t just about helping out players and referees; it’s also a marketing exercise for all parties. Apple gets its products in front of sports fans, proving that they’re not only useful but, in the case of the NHL and WSL, durable enough to survive, say, taking an accidental hit from an enforcer fighting another player or being sloshed around in massive waves. And the leagues get to show off their tech savvy.