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Yesterday, cybersecurity experts at Kaspersky revealed details about a new type of malware called “SparkCat” that was found in a handful of iOS apps. Following this revelation, Apple swiftly removed these apps from its App Store.

Among the apps affected were ComeCome, WeTink, and AnyGPT. In total, 11 apps were taken down, but Apple’s investigation led to the discovery of an additional 89 apps with similar malicious code, which had already been rejected or removed due to Apple’s strict anti-fraud rules. When Apple removes an app for such reasons, it also shuts down the developer’s account.

According to Kaspersky, the malware included a harmful tool that could read text from images and screenshots on iPhones, particularly targeting recovery phrases for cryptocurrency wallets. The aim was to steal valuable information like bitcoin codes, but it could also grab other sensitive phrases like passwords.

Apple’s default settings prevent apps from accessing your photos without your permission. However, if users granted these apps access to their photo library, the malware could scan for and transmit any matching key phrases to a server controlled by the attackers. The malware seemed to focus on iOS users in Europe and Asia.

Since the release of iOS 14, Apple has improved how apps can access your photos, allowing users to permit only specific images rather than the whole album. It’s wise to be cautious with app permissions and avoid granting access to all your photos to apps that seem suspicious.

Apple also offers an “App Privacy Report” feature, which you can find in the Privacy section of your iPhone’s Settings. This report shows when and how often apps access your sensitive data like your location, photos, camera, and microphone.

It’s always good to keep an eye on these privacy settings to protect your personal information.

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Apple’s team of clever scientists has made a little robot that looks like a lamp, with movements that feel very real. You can see all about it on their special research website. This robot, which kind of looks like the playful Luxo Jr. from Pixar, might just be a sneak peek into what Apple has planned for the future.

In a video, we see this robot acting very much like a friend. Someone asks it about the weather, and the robot turns to look outside the window before telling them it’s a nice day for a hike. But when it hears it’s not invited, the robot seems a bit sad.

In another scene, the robot follows the person’s hand signals, adjusting the light just right for taking photos with an iPhone. At another moment, it gently nudges a mug towards someone as a reminder to drink water.

The robot also helps by showing a tutorial video on the wall when someone is trying to build something new, like a 3D printer. And for fun, it dances to music, making it feel like a companion rather than just a machine.

The researchers, including Yuhan Hu, Peide Huang, Mouli Sivapurapu, and Jian Zhang, noted that making the robot move in a lifelike way really makes people want to interact with it more than if it just did simple tasks.

According to Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, Apple might be working on something similar with an iPad-screen on a robotic arm. They’re thinking about announcing this cool device maybe in 2026 or 2027. This robot would understand your voice commands, like “look at me,” especially useful during video calls.

This robot could be a fancy version of Apple’s upcoming smart home hub, expected to come out soon and priced around $1,000, though plans might still shift. This little robot friend from Apple is not just about tech; it’s about making our daily lives a bit more fun and interactive.