Search results for: “security”

In 2020, Apple rolled out privacy tags to show users what info an app might grab—like stuff tied to you or used to follow you around online. These tags were a game-changer, shining a light on apps that scoop up too much personal data. For example, you could see Signal barely touches your info, while Facebook Messenger slurps up everything it can for ads or upgrades. The goal? Help people pick apps wisely.

Lately, though, I’ve noticed folks wondering if these self-reported tags—tucked way down on an app’s App Store page—still sway anyone before they tap “Get.” Apple splits these “privacy nutrition tags” into three types:

• Data Tied to You: This is stuff like your name, address, email, exact location, or shopping history that’s linked to you, often for ads or tailoring the app. Developers have to spill it if it points back to you.
• Data Not Tied to You: Info collected but kept nameless, usually to tweak the app. Apple makes sure it can’t be traced back to you.
• Data That Tracks You: This follows you across apps and sites—like Google or Meta using your device ID for custom ads or selling it to data collectors.

People get loud about privacy when a hot new app, like Threads, sparks worry. Back then, users scratched their heads over why it listed “Health and Fitness” data with no clear reason. Yet Threads still shot to the top of social media downloads. So, do these tags really matter?

Here’s the catch: developers report this stuff themselves. Apple trusts them to be honest, which speeds up approvals but can blur the truth. For users, the tags are handy—if you dig for them and know what they mean. But just because they’re listed doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. As Apple pushes privacy hard, the real challenge is teaming up with developers to make things clearer, explain data use better, and keep overstating in check. So, do privacy tags sway your downloads? Maybe—if you’re paying attention.

Apple has added a handy new trick to iPhones with the “Critical Messages” feature in a recent iOS update. This lets apps send you super-important text messages (SMS) that stand out. It’s different from the Priority Notifications in iOS 18.4, which highlight alerts on your Lock Screen. Here’s the scoop on how it works.

A Special Text Feature with Strict Rules

In the last few months, Apple updated iPhones so app makers can send urgent SMS alerts. But don’t worry—this isn’t for random ads or junk. It’s only for really serious stuff. Apple explains it like this: the Critical Messaging tool lets apps send vital updates to specific phone numbers. For example, a company might use it to check on workers in risky or remote areas. If someone can’t unlock their phone or get a signal, the app can still send a safety update to a main office. Pretty cool, right?

To stop misuse, Apple has tough rules. Developers can’t send spam, phishing texts, or anything shady. The feature is locked down to keep your phone from buzzing with nonsense.
Don’t Expect Tons of These Texts

As a user, you probably won’t see these messages often. Like other critical alerts, they’re saved for rare, urgent moments—like a safety warning that can’t wait.
How to Turn It Off If You Want

Not a fan? You can stop these texts from apps you don’t like. Just head to your iPhone’s Settings, tap Privacy & Security, then find Critical Messages. You’ll see a list of apps that can send them. Switch off any you don’t trust—it’s that easy. This feature is all about keeping you safe or informed when it matters, without clogging your phone with junk. Simple, smart, and totally in your control!

Imagine a doorbell that knows it’s you just by looking at your face! A few months back, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg shared that Apple is working on a smart doorbell and lock combo that uses Face ID. It would connect wirelessly to a special lock you can control without cords.

Today, a tech insider named Kosutami dropped a hint on X about something extra Apple might add: MagSafe. You’ve probably seen MagSafe on newer iPhones—it’s a handy way to snap on chargers or accessories with magnets. If the doorbell gets this feature, it could mean you’d charge it without plugging anything in, likely because its battery can’t be taken out. We’re not sure yet if it’ll also have a USB-C cable option.

Wireless charging with MagSafe sounds neat and easy. Most smart doorbells only need a charge a few times a year anyway. We wondered if MagSafe could also let you pop the doorbell off a magnetic plate, but that might make it too easy for someone to swipe it—so maybe not!

Gurman thinks this doorbell won’t hit stores until 2026 at the soonest. More rumors should pop up to clear things up as time goes on. Apple’s main rival here would be Ring, owned by Amazon since 2018. Apple will probably brag about how safe and private its doorbell is. They already have a HomeKit Secure Video setup that keeps recordings locked tight in iCloud, and this doorbell might include a special security chip too.

Apple seems ready to dive deeper into smart home gadgets. Besides the doorbell, they’re rumored to be launching a home hub this year and even a camera to take on Logitech’s Circle View. Kosutami, the leaker, is known for collecting rare Apple gear and sometimes nails these predictions. They were right about the iPhone 16 Pro’s metal battery case months ahead and showed off an Apple Watch band made of FineWoven material early. But they’ve been off too—like saying AirPods Pro 3 were coming in August 2024, which didn’t happen.

The first iOS 18.4 beta is out now, and it’s available for public testers too. Among its updates, there’s a neat little improvement to the verification codes in Apple’s Passwords app. Here’s what you need to know.

A Timer Shows When Codes Will Refresh

Aaron Perris shared on X that the Passwords app has a helpful new twist in the iOS 18.4 beta. The verification codes—those short codes you use for extra security—now come with a countdown timer. This shows you exactly how much time is left before they run out and are replaced with new ones.

When you go to the Codes section in the app, you’ll notice a small ring in the top-right corner. This ring starts empty and slowly fills up with green as time passes. It’s an easy way to see how long your current codes will last. Once the ring turns fully green, the codes expire and refresh automatically.

You can also check this timer when looking at a specific password’s details. If that entry has a verification code, the countdown will appear right next to it. Perris pointed out that this update isn’t just for iPhones—it’s also in macOS Sequoia 15.4 and works in the Passwords Menu Bar app on Macs.

This might seem like a tiny addition, but it’s super useful. Before, there was no clear way to tell when a code was about to stop working. Now, with this simple timer, you can stay on top of your security codes without any guesswork. It’s a small step that makes a big difference for something so important.

Apple recently made a small tweak to dodge a tricky situation that made it seem like they were okay with a porn app popping up for iPhone users in the EU through a third-party app store. This mix-up sparked some confusing news headlines, but Apple sorted it out by switching just three words in an email they send to app developers.

The Porn App Mix-Up

Last year, the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) forced Apple to let third-party app stores onto iPhones. Apple wasn’t thrilled about it and even made the process of using these stores a bit of a hassle to discourage people. One big worry for Apple was losing control over what kinds of apps could sneak onto the platform—like pornography, which they’ve always kept out of their own App Store.

Apple still gets to check apps for safety before they’re allowed in these third-party stores. That’s what happened with an app called Hot Tub, designed for browsing adult content. After Apple’s safety check, the app’s developer got the green light from AltStore, a third-party store, which then claimed Apple “approved” it.

Technically, this was sort of true. After Apple confirms an app meets security and privacy rules, they send an email saying it’s “approved” for release. But that wording caused a headache. Apple pushed back, saying they didn’t actually support the app. They explained that EU rules forced them to let it onto third-party stores like AltStore, even if those stores don’t match Apple’s strict standards for user safety.

A Quick Word Swap

To clear things up, Apple changed the email’s phrasing. Here’s the switch:

• Before: “The following app has been approved for distribution”
• Now: “The following app is now ready for distribution”

AltStore’s Riley Testut pointed out the update, joking about what might’ve prompted it. Tech writer John Gruber called it a smart move—keeping the message clear for developers while making it obvious Apple isn’t cheering for every app that passes the safety check. With this tiny tweak, Apple dodged a big misunderstanding without missing a beat.

Pegasus spyware, created by NSO, is a danger to iPhone users’ privacy. This sneaky program can take over your phone without you doing anything. It grabs almost all your info and some versions can even turn on your camera and microphone. Pegasus uses secret flaws in iPhones that Apple hasn’t found yet. Still, Apple has a plan to catch it.

Apple’s Efforts to Find Pegasus

Apple built special tools into iOS to spot when spyware sneaks into an iPhone, even if they don’t know how it got there. When they think a phone’s been hit, they warn the owner and start hunting for the weak spot Pegasus used. Last summer, for example, Apple sent alerts to users in nearly 100 countries.

Apple has told tons of people in 98 countries that “mercenary spyware” might have attacked their phones, risking nearly all their private data. They admit they’re not always 100% sure, but they’re pretty confident and tell users to take the warning seriously.

Here are some past cases:

• Apple tipped off a Polish prosecutor her phone might be hacked by NSO.
• Apple warned pro-democracy activists in Thailand about a Pegasus attack.
• Apple alerted an Indian opposition leader about a possible iPhone hack.

Only Half of Infected Phones Caught

A new study says Apple is only finding about half of the phones hit by Pegasus. This info comes from iVerify, a mobile security company. They made a $1 app last year that lets you check your phone and send the results to them. You pay once and can scan monthly.

From those scans, iVerify figured out how common Pegasus is and checked if Apple warned the infected users. After big news coverage, 18,000 more people used the app and found 11 new Pegasus cases in December alone. Now, iVerify estimates about 1.5 out of every 1,000 scanned phones have Pegasus.

With more scans, they’re sure of this number. They also noticed that not just big shots as politicians get hit—regular folks in jobs like government, finance, logistics, and real estate do too. Some were tracked for years with different Pegasus types.  Surprisingly, Apple didn’t warn about half of these victims. Without verifying, they’d never know their phones were hacked. iVerify says they only counted phones they were sure were infected.

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